“Still.” She lays her jacket over the back of a chair at the table where there’s a place setting, as if claiming that spot. “I’m just thinking of you two and the strain it might put on your working relationship.”
Sure you are, Kara.
“We’ll be fine,” I say.
“I suppose you know best,” she murmurs, turning to me. “Can I talk to you for a sec, babe?”
“Sure.”
“I mean in private.”
“Oh, okay.”God, what now?I stamp down my irritation and address Jude. “We’ll be back in a minute.”
“Take your time,” he says, probably hoping we never return.
I lead Kara down the hallway toward the back of the house and into the laundry room. It’s far enough from the kitchen that hopefully Jude won’t hear us if we keep our voices down, but I still pull the laundry room door closed behind us.
Once we’re in the small room, she crosses her arms. “Are you mad at me for coming by tonight?”
“No, of course not,” I lie.
“You seem like you are.”
I sigh. “Well, if I’m honest, I’m frustrated with your attitude. I don’t like that you’re making Jude feel uncomfortable about staying with me. It was my idea, not his.”
She wrinkles her brow. “I’m sorry, but I really do find it annoying that he’s staying here. I know you’re trying to help him out and all, but I didn’t expect my boyfriend to suddenly have aroommate. You didn’t even tell me. I only found out because I showed up here tonight.”
“It’s not like I need your permission to help out a friend.”
She sighs. “No, I know that. But I still can’t believe you didn’t mention it to me.”
“Of course I’d have told you. It wasn’t a secret. I just hadn’t gotten around to it. Having him stay with me was a spontaneous decision. Is it really that big of a deal?” I rasp. “If a friend of yours was displaced, wouldn’t you offer them your spare room?”
She frowns. “Not necessarily. Not unless I was really close to them.”
I laugh gruffly. “Well, I guess I have a softer heart than you. Jude had nowhere else to go, so I helped him out. I don’t feel guilty about that either.”
She seems to realize she’s pushing me too hard. “Babe, don’t get mad.” Her voice is more conciliatory. “I’m just worried because it was hard enough having private time with you. Now Jude is going to be here all the time. When are we ever going to be alone?”
“It’s not like we can’t go to your place.”
She narrows her eyes. “You sure about that? You don’t seem to like spending the night there anymore.”
“That’s not true.”
“Uh, yeah, it is. You haven’t spent the night since you got partnered withJude.” There’s a testy emphasis on his name.
“That has nothing to do with Jude. It’s been hectic with the resort opening. You know how it is this time of year.”
“Yes. I… I do know how it is.” She bites her bottom lip, a line between her brows. “But last year we didn’t have to also work around you having a roommate.”
“What was I supposed to do, turn my back on him?” I say exasperated. “His home is uninhabitable. Every motel in town is booked because of the time of year. He had nowhere else to go. He’s my partner. I wasn’t going to make him sleep in his damn car.”
“No, I know.” She leans against the dryer, tugging off her knit cap. She frowns, smoothing her hand over her hair. “But what about Silver Creek? There are plenty of motels down the mountain.”
“That’s over an hour commute each way, on icy mountain roads.” I struggle to keep my voice even. “Why in the world would Jude have to make that trip twice a day when I have an empty room? Staying with me was the obvious solution.”
“It just seems... fast. You’ve known him, what, a week? And he’s alreadylivingin your house?”
