Page 78 of Crazy In Love

The man can’t sleep. I wish for the light, too.

“Are you okay now?” I push up to stand, if only to draw her eyes somewhere else and not down to the man who lurks under the bed. “You came to me so you could cry and not terrify Tommy. But are you good now?”

“Yes.” She drops her lips into a pout, sad and sorry and all the waypathetic. “Also, I came to ask why the hell you forgot to bring my kid to school today?”

My heart stumbles violently in my chest. “Hmm?”

“Tommy said you and he had agreed, but I know when he’s lying, Fox. His nose,” she points up at hers, “it does this squidgy, squinty, weird thing. I figured that out when he was only twelve years old. Besides, you’re still in your undies, and despite how ridiculously overwhelming my baby hormones are right now, I didn’tnotsee that bottle of lube. Which leads me to the conclusion you’re a nasty hussy, and you’re getting laid. But by who?” She wonders, tapping her chin. She’s a regular Watson… or whoever the hell that inspector was. “Do I know him?”

“No, I?—”

“I mean, surely I do. Unless you’re shipping penis in from out of town, everyone knows everyone in Plainview. And the only reason you’ve snuck this past me is because of the whole baby and vagina stitches thing.”

“Alana—”

“Is it Cliff? I heard the whispers about your bathroom.”

“Cliff?” My voice squeaks. Good lord, why does my voice squeak? “The fighter? No. Of course not.”

“I heard that Barbara saw him coming up here last week.” Hormonal overagedone, she walks a lap of my living space, stepping ridiculously, sickeningly close to Chris’ boots, but too tired to look down and notice them. “I rarely listen to town gossip, but I was in the hospital for three days, and gossip is theonlything anyone has to pass the time in there. I heard you and Cliff were cutesy and giggly.”

“We were not!”

“But he was here?”

“Yes, he was here. He’s helping me with the bathroom renovations. But we weren’t giggly. I’m never giggly.”

“So someone else, then.” Her belly is still round-ish, though not as round as it was this time last week. So when she reaches the window and turns back to face me, smug taunting in her eyes, her belly is the first thing to turn. “I heard you were at the gym a few days ago, too. So it’s someone there.”

“Good lord, woman. You sound an awful lot like the old biddies you call and complain about! Youheardthis, youheardthat?”

“I heard a heard and heard.” She snickers. “Am I wrong?”

“About me being at the gym? The day Itook your son to the gym?”

“Oh… hmm…”

I knock the wind from her sails and draw her to a pause. “Okay, soalthough that rumor is true, it might not mean anything more than taking Franky to the gym.”

“Ya think?! Jesus. Have I ever not told you about my sex life?”

“Never. Which is why I’m so curious now. Why hide him, if not because you think I’ll be scandalized by whoever he is?”

“Or maybe you’re overthinking things and letting your baby hormones take over.”Great! Gaslighting your best friend is a new low for you, Fox.“I was out late last night at the movies, and I slept in today. It’s not a crime. Can you head down and open the shop while I get dressed? I’m running late, and it’s unprofessional for a store not to open when they say they’ll open.”

“You wantmeto open? Really? I’m six days postpartum, and you’re already putting me back to work?”

“Oh, bring out the violins!”

“For shame. For shame!”

“Go the hell away. Open the shop. I’ll be down in five minutes.”

“Fine.”

She sets her coffee cup on the counter and wanders forward with her hands outstretched. But I turn and snarl. “Leave the baby. I’m not done snuggling with her yet, and you’re irritating me. I deserve her hugs, and you deserve to work.”

“Even though I have stitches in my vagina?”