“It said, ‘How does it feel?’”
“Why didn’t you say anything yesterday?!” Bailey demanded.
“I didn’t want to ruin Carly’s birthday party.”
“Why didn’t you say anything last night?” I asked.
“Really. Hi, I haven’t seen you in twenty years, oh, I might have a stalker.”
“Yeah.” I nodded.
She rolled her eyes.
“Who is doing this?” Birdie asked, calmly. Much more calmly than the rest of us seemed to be.
“I have no idea.”
Lights shone on all three sisters’ faces as a black SUV pulled up and parked illegally. A man stepped out who looked to be in his early forties with dark hair that definitely had some salt coming through on his temples and in his beard. He looked like he had just walked off the set of one of those SVU shows, not as a background actor, as the lead. He was in plain clothes, close tomy height at six foot four, with a square jaw covered in stubble and an athletic build.
The sisters all stared at the man approaching as he removed his aviator sunglasses. Sunglasses at dusk was a choice.
“Miss Bliss.”
“Billie, please. Detective Ramos, these are my sisters Bailey and Birdie and my, um, childhood neighbor Adam Knight.”
Childhood neighbor? I didn’t even make the cut as a childhoodfriend. Fuck, talk about brutal. But then again, what did I expect for nearly taking her virginity and then disappearing from her life for twenty years?
I stood out of the way as Detective Ramos spoke to Billie and her sisters. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Detective Dreamy Shades wrapped things up.
“Do you have somewhere you can stay for a little bit?”
“Yes,” Bailey, Birdie, and I all replied simultaneously.
Billie remained silent.
Detective Ramos reached out and touched Billie’s forearm. “Call me, anytime.”
A very unfamiliar sensation burned in my chest and gut. It was the same feeling I’d had when Billie mentioned coming home from herdate. Which was ridiculous.
I had no right to be jealous.
Before Detective Ramos had even pulled out of the parking lot, Birdie and Bailey were both offering their places for her to stay, each pleading their case. Bailey said she could have her own room, and Birdie saying it would be fun, like sleepovers since she had a loft space.
“I’ll be fine at my place,” Billie argued.
“You arenotstaying at your place,” Bailey insisted.
I could see that Billie was battling with whether or not to give in to her sisters’ demands. I could also see she knew they were right. I also knew she needed time to make the right decision.
After several seconds of silent deliberation, she exhaled an exasperated sigh. “I have to go back to my apartment and pack.”
“I’ll take you,” I offered, and all three women’s head spun my direction. “We’re both done, and you guys aren’t.”And I’m not gonna let any of you go to that apartment by yourselves.
“Are you sure?” Bailey asked.
I nodded.
She threw her arms around my neck. “I’m so happy you’re back.”
