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“Really?”

“Yeah, because we used to date, and because I was a bit of an asshole there for a while.”

Jerica laughed lightly. “You an asshole? I can hardly imagine.”

“Is that sarcasm?”

“It is.” Jerica laughed again as her phone connected to the car.

Bridget shifted position to get more comfortable. She longed for the day when she would be completely carefree and truly able to relax. She needed it. It had felt like a decade since she’d sprawled out on a couch, completely comfortable. “What are you doing tonight?”

“I’m going over to my sister’s.”

“I can’t entice you to come up here, can I? I’ve been…working out my fingers and wrist.”

Jerica paused, the silence going on far too long. She wasn’t sure what Jerica was thinking, but it didn’t feel like it was going to end well for either of them. Bridget stared at the television on mute as she waited for an answer, not sure how to probe for that one. If Jerica had been a suspect, she might know how best to get a response, but this time, she didn’t want to push too hard or too far in the wrong direction and risk everything they had built up.

“I can’t tonight, Bridge. I’d love to, but I can’t.”

“Oh.” Cold washed through her. Bridget had no idea where to go with that, but at least Jerica had called her that gentle nickname.

“It’s the anniversary of her fiancé’s death.”

Bridget pressed her lips together, hearing what Jerica didn’t say. It might have been the anniversary of her fiancé dying, but it was also the anniversary of him trying to kill her.

“We’re all getting together at her house just to have dinner and hang out. I’ll probably end up staying the night.” Jerica sounded disappointed. “I might need to do the same tomorrow, too, but Mom should be able to take a few nights this week, luckily.”

“Makes sense,” Bridget answered, her tone dropping. “I’ve worked quite a few situations similar to that. They’re tragic no matter what, so I’m glad you’re all going to be there for her. I’m sure she needs it.”

“She does.” Jerica sighed.

Bridget ran her fingers through her hair, pulling out the tangles. She wasn’t sure how to steer the conversation back to flirting. It had taken such a dark tone. Plus she wasn’t sure she wanted to bring it back around to the lightheartedness they had started with. “She’s seeing a professional, right?”

“She’s not.” Jerica groaned. “We’ve tried to convince her it’ll be good, but before everything, her fiancé took her to a quack and she’s sworn off therapists ever since. I don’t blame her in some ways. In others, I wish she would try just once more.”

“It’s so hard. I’ve been to some shrinks—good and bad, but mostly bad. The ones out here, in western Kansas? They mostly suck.” Bridget fiddled with her pants again, trying not to dive deep down the rabbit hole that had just showed up.

“You’ve been?”

“A few times. Never lasted long.” Bridget pursed her lips, still staring at nothing in particular. She wanted to talk longer, but she wasn’t sure that Jerica had the time or the energy, especially with what she was going into. “Keep trying to convince her, but it’s okay if she doesn’t go, too. Especially with the shrinks we have around here.”

“There are a few good ones,” Jerica murmured.

“I suppose, but I haven’t found them.”

“I hope she does. He did a doozy on her. Hey, sorry to cut this short, but I just got to her house. I’ll try and find a day I can come up next.”

Bridget gave a wan smile. “I can’t wait until I can drive. Then I can come see you instead.”

“That’d be nice.” Bridget could hear the smile in Jerica’s voice.

“Good. First thing as soon as I’m cleared to drive again, I’ll come down and see you.” It felt good to say that, to want it. She wanted to see Jerica in a place where no one else could interrupt them, wanted to be with her for hours and never stop making love to her during that time.

Bridget parted her lips in surprise at that image.

“I’ve got to go, Bridge. I’ll text and see you soon. Promises.”

“All right,” Bridget answered, her voice distanced. “See you soon.”