Diem discussed Evergreen’s security and surveillance and asked if she knew what the police had done so far. He was his typical awkward Diem self, but not once did he look to me to rescue him.
Donna hung on his every word during the entire conversation.
I was about to tell her to close her damn mouth because she was ten seconds from drooling on my boyfriend when a thought struck, and I balked.
“Oh my god,” I unintentionally said aloud, interrupting their conversation.
When they both noticed me—because I’d been invisible up until that point—I laughed. “Wow. Yeah, ignore me. I was hit in the face by a two-by-four of unexpected jealousy. Then, I suddenly understood Diem’s out-of-proportion animosity toward my best friend. It all makes sense. No wonder you’re so snarly with Memphis. Jealousy. Huh. Who would have thought? Never mind. I’m better now, but as far as I know,” I said to Donna, “my boyfriend has never had a single bi thought in his life, so you’re wasting your time.”
When they continued to stare, I cleared my throat and ducked my chin. “Carry on.”
6
Diem
Diem
“You were jealous.” I couldn’t keep a straight face as I brought Elwood’s laptop down the hall to my office. Echo’s nails click-clacked on the hardwood as she scrambled along on my heels.
“It was momentary.”
“You. Were. Jealous.”
Tallus huffed. “Fine. I was jealous. For five whole seconds, then it went away, and now it’s gone.”
“Of a woman.”
“Oh, good god. Of a woman. I was jealous of a woman. There, I said it. Stop laughing.” Tallus rolled his desk chair down the hall, joining me so we could go through the outdated computer.
“I thought you liked it when I laughed.” I pointed at Echo’s bed. “Go lie down and have a nap, girl.”
The dog chuffed but didn’t object, performed three circles, and collapsed with a sigh on her pillow. She’d had a long morning.
Tallus forcefully shoved the chair into the room until it clattered against the desk. “I don’t like it when you laugh at my expense. You do realize that your nurse friend Donna is completely enamored with you, right? Tell me you aren’t that oblivious.”
“I noticed.”
“She wanted you to take her to bed.”
“I figured.”
“She wanted to rub her naked body all over you?”
“I caught that vibe.”
“You did, huh? Amazing.”
“I’m not blind, Tallus. It’s not like she turns me on.”
“Did you tell her you were gay and in a committed relationship and the only person allowed to ride your monster cock is me?”
“It never came up.”
Tallus scoffed, and the damn grin wouldn’t leave my face. Tallus oozed jealousy, and it was beautiful. He’d tried to explode my head like a pimple all the way back to the office, and I’d soaked it up. Did he really feel threatened by a pixy nurse with holes in her face? Even if I were semi-bi, five percent bi, I wouldn’t be interested.
“Was the gravelly voice necessary?”
“What gravelly voice?” I asked in a gravelly voice as I plugged in the laptop and hung my damp fedora and trench coat before getting situated.
