Page 75 of Beautiful Secrets

I give her a casual wave, pursing my lips. “Oh, he tells me all about asylum.” I widen my eyes at her. “Such a long time, no?”

“Five years,” Sarah murmurs, shaking her head. “Can you imagine?” She grimaces a little. “But I guess they say time heals all wounds.”

“Truth.” I nod sagely, and then move a little closer, ducking my head. “I would not want to speak out of turn, but I think it was successful.” I wiggle my fingertips. “The treatment.”

“Yeah?” Sarah’s eyelashes flutter. “Thank God. After what Kill told us, I wasn’t so sure.”

“Maybe brother is overprotective.” I shrug, my heart pounding as I throw myself into whatever lie this is I am concocting. “It is understandable. He has a family now. He sees things differently to when they were boys.”

Sarah leans back, eyes wide. “I…guess that’s true. Cole’s never had—” She waves a limp hand. “I mean, he’s never been in a serious relationship that I know of. Even when we were, I mean, he did mention…do you know that we…?” Sarah trails off, presses her lips closed, and gives me a worried frown. “Did I put my foot in it?”

“No.” I scoff. “I know about you and Cole.”

Chyort. If I keep going, I will be caught like a fly in a web.

Sarah sighs again, and lets out a little giggle. She seems like such a nice person, but not very observant. Or maybe that is because of her pregnancy? Zaneta was dumb as a doorpost when she was pregnant with her first child. It was impossible to have a conversation with her.

“Tell me more about—” I wave at Sarah’s belly. “Your child. It is boy? Girl?”

“Oh.” She cradles her belly with both hands as she lets out a soft laugh. “It’s too early to tell.”

“Really? Huh.”

“Yeah, I think that’s only after the fifth month or so, I think.”

“Wow. I had no idea.” My eyes slide past Sarah and fix on Cole.

He’s staring at me. Watching me.

I do not like the cold look in his eyes.

“Sarah, babe?” Derek calls out.

“Yeah, hon?” Sarah turns in her chair.

“Is it okay if Mika crashes at our place tonight?”

Sarah’s mouth opens, but it takes a second before words come out. “Yeah, uh, sure. I mean…” She glances at me, shrugs. “Sure, hon.”

What? I look past her at Cole.

But as soon as my eyes touch his, he looks away. He stands, shakes hands with Derek and heads toward us with a strange look on his face.

“Wait for me at the back,” Derek calls out. “I’ll walk you to the car.”

Sarah stands, one hand on her belly, the other holding onto the back of her chair. “Everything okay?” she asks Cole as he comes closer.

“Peachy.” He snaps his fingers at me like I’m a dog. “Let’s get you out of here.”

“But…I want to dance more.” I realize I am not making matters better, but I can’t help it—I am confused, and I don’t like it.

“Now, Mika.” Cole tilts his head a little.

“Oh, Cole, I’m sure it’s okay if she stayed a little while—” Sarah begins.

“Derek said you were heading home anyway,” Cole tells her, completely ignoring the scathing glare I’m throwing his way. “And she’s had a hectic day. Needs her beauty sleep.”

“Um…yeah. Okay.” Sarah comes over to me, giving me a faint smile as she beckons me to follow her. “I’m actually craving a cuppa. They can’t make tea here for shit.”