“I don’t do conspiracy finance,” he said, and she could tell from the background that he was out somewhere. The office, maybe, or a bar. She smoothed out her frizzed hair as though he and everyone he was with could see her.
“It’s all conspiracy finance in the end, Tennant. For a price.”
He huffed a little laugh, and warmth went through her like syrup. Toby didn’t know what had happened, had no idea her mum was back and being confusing as balls. That was a joy in and of itself.
“So why are you calling me?” she asked. “Or do you just want my take on the NASDAQ?”
“I don’t. I want you to come over tomorrow night and work on my tattoo.”
“And the other thing…?”
“That depends,” Toby said, his voice two octaves lower. “Are you committing?”
“I’m… Imightbe interested.”
Toby was silent, and she swore under her breath. She’d seen this ‘still waters’ side of him when they were friends, but it pissed her off how frequently he was wielding it against her now. “I’m interested, okay? I wanna do it.”
“Good,” Toby said as though there’d been no pause. “I want that too. So here are my rules?—”
“You have rules?”
More silence.
“Oh my God, fuck off,” Tabby snapped. “What are you? Fucking Batman?”
As could have been predicted, Toby stayed quiet.
“Sorry!” she hissed. “I’ll stop interrupting!”
“Good girl.”
Another syrupy glow, this time right between her legs. “What are yourrules?”
“You’ll pick a safeword and text it to me, and you’ll show up at seven on the dot tomorrow, or I’ll lock you out of the house.”
“Fine. Anything else?”
“Yes, actually, can you take tomorrow off work?”
Tabby recalled Sam violently trampling the unwanted flowers sent to her by their mother. “Yeah, I think I can swing that. Why?”
“There are some things I’d like to do before you come over.”
“Such as?”
“I’ve made a few appointments for you. You’ll get your hair and nails done and a few other things. I’ll pay for it.”
“What the fuckingwhat?”
“Don’t get the wrong idea,” Toby said calmly. “I said I wanted to dress you up?—”
“Dress me up, not paint me like one of your French girls, you fucking spanner!”
“Let me finish. You know I think you’re stunning, Tabitha?—”
She paused, blindsided by the compliment.
“—but you told me money’s an issue lately, and you always had your hair and nails done when we were friends.”
