“Thought you could use some company.”
“I do.” My mood lifted instantly as I let him inside.
“You cleared half the flowers?” He sat the food on my coffee table.“Probably a good thing since you’ve got another one on your porch.”
“What?” I hurried outside and to my dismay, there was another bouquet. It had no card, but I knew why I’d received them. They were Emi’s flowers.
“Whoever is sending them needs to fuck right off,”I said, slamming the door and leaving them on the porch.
“I mean, they’re pretty flowers.” He shrugged and joined me on the couch.
“Too much of a good thing.” I sighed and reached for a beer in the box.
“To us,” Kansas said.
I took a large gulp and sighed. “Constantine knows.”
He chuckled and reached for a tinfoil tray, opening it, and reaching for forks. “Yeah? Good for him.”
“He’s…”
“Jealous?”
“I don’t know?” I sat back, brushing my hair behind my ear. “Maybe? And you can’t talk, mister. You’ve been jealous of him for years.”
“Yeah, because you were waiting for a dead guy. How could anyone compete with that?”
“It’s not a competition. You guys mean the same to me.”
He took a bite of his food, staring at me with his bright, expressive green eyes.
“Can we talk about something else?”
“Of course,” I agreed and reached for my tin of food. We ate and I tried to chat about regular things, but considering the events from the last few weeks, it felt awkward. We sat facing each other, sipping our drinks and dancing around several topics.He pushed his glasses up and wiggled his septum piercing.
“All right, what do you want to ask about?”
“Emi.” My voice came out so small. Tears flooded my vision. “Was it hard?”
“Yes. I was scared that someone would come in at any time. I had to move quickly. I felt terrible, but then I found all that shit on her computer and I had to turn it in.”
“What stuff?”
“She planned it all. With the documentary crew. They were paying her every step of the way for a good story. Eisley, I think, she was going to kill all of you guys.”
“No. That can’t be.”Kansas set his beer down and pulled me into his embrace.
“It is. I saw her emails. It was all there. Down to how much she was getting for each event.”
“She admitted to killing them?”
“That’s the only thing she didn’t say. But all the pieces are there. I’m sorry, Eisley. She wasn't your friend. She only started talking to you because they asked her to.”
Was that true? Was Emi luring me to my death this whole time? I was silent for a long time before deciding I wanted to move on.
“Therese told me they are doing a combined funeral for Emi and Soleil, since they were roommates and all.”
He pressed his lips tenderly to the top of my head, and I kissed his chest. He stiffened, and I looked up at him. His hand came up and his thumb brushed away my tears.
