I snickered.
Yes.
“That’s not exactly unheard of in this town,” I said.
“Which one?”
“Either.”
“But you said you were there.”
I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. She was dancing around the question. “Just ask me.”
She squinted and then relaxed. “Do you do sex work?”
“That’s literally my job. Or have you forgotten aboutSimon Says Six—”
“Six Six,” she added.
“Six Six, already?”
“No, not that kind of sex work. Like…”
My patience was wearing thin. This was a tennis match, both of us going hard, back and forth at each other.
“I was not paid to be there,” I finally told her. Well, not in cash anyway. I’d made sure he signed a contract before mixing his drink.
“So, it was a love affair.”
I choked and began to laugh. “Love affair is bold. I’d say more of an…agreement. I had something he wanted, and he had something I wanted. No money was ever exchanged. If he was having a love affair, it wasn’t with me.”
“What was the thing you wanted?”
“Simon Says Six: Six Sixgreen-lit. That’s a few questions. Shouldn’t I get one now?” I asked. As if they understood me, Cujo and Precious lifted their heads and shot me looks. I glared right back at them. Cujo gave me a low growl, and Evie stroked his coat until he snuggled back into her.
“Okay, but ask something lesswhich ex of yours do I murder first,yeah?”
“Have you loved any of them?” A pit formed in my stomach, making me uncomfortable. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to hear the answer.
Her smile fell, and her eyes glossed over.
“Love isn’t really in the cards for me.”
“Why not?”
She sighed deeply. “Why let someone fall for you and grow attached if you’re just… Did he know it was you who dosed him?” she asked.
“He did. I was looking dead in his eyes as his heart stopped. I told him I’d done it for Lita. He knew, in the end, that karma had finally caught up with him.”
My words settled around us, grounding us back to earth. I reached for her hand and squeezed.
“Thank you,” she whispered, and I simply nodded.
The movie continued, and we didn’t speak until it was almost over. It was as if we both had so much to ask still and so much we were holding back. She didn’t want to tell me about her past, and I didn’t want to tell her about mine.
After the movie, I took the popcorn to the kitchen and dumped the leftovers in the trash. Spinning back, I locked eyes with Evie and jumped. She’d startled me.
“I just don’t want anyone to hurt or grieve for me when I’m gone,” she blurted.
