“No, Marcus. But if you could take the elevator up with me, I’d appreciate it. Rob and Jeff will be here shortly.” Marina took River’s hand. “Thank you for this. It’s above and beyond for a total stranger.”
“Hey, any femme who wants to swoon into my arms isn’t a stranger.” River winked, aware that Marina wouldn’t want to be seen as needing help. “Take care of yourself.”
Marina nodded, and the doorman followed her closely as they entered the high rise.
There was a moment, a fleeting one, when River considered heading in and escorting Marina to her apartment. But as quickly as it came, she shoved it away. They weren’t dating. They weren’t even friends.
As she and Billy headed back toward South Shore, she thought about how soft and vulnerable Marina had looked when she was passed out in her arms. That close, and with Marina’s shields down, River had felt the chaos of emotion she kept under control like a ruthless dictator. No emotion was allowed to do anything Marina didn’t want it to. When she was awake anyway. What were Marina’s dreams like?
And was she ever in them?
CHAPTER 7
“Whoa there.You’re going to make yourself sick again if you eat that fast.” Rob slid the plate away, and Marina snatched it back.
“Touch my food again and I’ll stab you with a spoon.” Marina took his advice and set her fork down. “I never thought I’d want to eat again after yesterday, but now I’m ravenous.” The chicken breast over creamy mashed potatoes had tasted utterly divine. He and Jeff had also brought more electrolyte tablets and coconut water, which she sipped dutifully, though a beer would have gone down better to help drown the mortification that lingered like sweaty pit stains in a favorite shirt.
“Given the way your system emptied itself of both food and liquid, it isn’t surprising.” Jeff sat back, his hands cradled around a cup of tea. “Are you feeling better?”
“You looked like someone had reheated your corpse when we got here.” Rob’s eyes had gone wide when she’d opened the door, which told her exactly how bad she looked.
While she showered, they’d plated the food and Rob had even laid out her sweats and T-shirt, which was sweet, even if she hated people going through her drawers. They’d been friends long enough that it wasn’t as weird as it could be.
“Feeling much better. Physically, anyway. Mentally and emotionally?” She shook her head. “Yesterday I told her I had the runs. Today I passed out, literally, in her arms while looking like something that washed up on shore.”
“And smelling like it. Don’t forget that.” Rob grunted when Jeff pinched his leg.
“It’s not like I want anything with her. I mean, sex would definitely be something mind-blowing. You can tell by the way she moves her hands.”
“Lesbians,” Jeff said, shaking his head.
“But then I’d have to deal with all the woo-woo stuff. We’d have the kinds of arguments that end in prison time, I’m sure of it. She’s soft and sweet and believes that a deck of cards can tell you your future. She probably dances naked and prays to a goddess too.”
Jeff frowned as he blew softly on his tea. “There’s nothing wrong with people believing in whatever they believe in, Marina. Plenty of couples have different belief systems and make it work.”
“They do, that’s true. But I’m not going to be one of those people. I don’t have the time or energy for someone who wants to commune with the spirits.” She told them about the situation with the couple in the restaurant. Rob laughed, but Jeff continued to look serious.
“I think that’s very sweet, and if it’s real, then it’s something special.”
Rob cupped Jeff’s chin in his hand. “I love how forgiving you are of people’s weirdness.” He kissed him quickly. “But I’m with Marina on this. It’s one thing to say you think there’s an afterlife, or to go to church. It’s another realm entirely to think you talk to dead people.”
Jeff shook his head. “You’re both too cynical for your own good. Marina, someone like River could be good for you. The way I’m good for Rob.”
Marina pushed away her plate, which she’d nearly licked clean. “I’ll never know. I came this close,” she held her fingers a smidge apart, “to messing shit up with Sheila Black. I can’t risk not giving her my full focus. I read the rumor mill online, and she expects people to jump the moment she snaps the whip, no matter what time it is, day or night. I need to be that person.”
Rob nodded emphatically, while Jeff looked dubious. “You’re right. Monty chose you for this, and it could send you skyrocketing to the top. Get laid, have fun, work off some steam, whatever. But don’t let anyone keep that from happening.”
Jeff stood and started clearing plates. “I’m glad you didn’t think that way when we met. Or that you think that way now. You’re giving bad advice, love.”
Rob rolled his eyes. “I’m agreeing with her. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“There is when she’s shutting down the possibility of something special.” Jeff left for the kitchen with his arms loaded with dishes.
“Special?” Marina closed her eyes, weary to her bones. “I’ve run into her a couple of times and two of them ended with me in tears. I hardly think it counts as a budding romance.”
Rob leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I think you need sleep. We’ll head out and drop by tonight with dinner. Call us if you need anything or if you feel strange.”
She nodded without opening her eyes. “Thanks for coming.”
