Page 89 of Detectives in Love

She glances around the room, like she’s just now realizing something. “Where’s Xavier?”

I try to keep my voice even. “Out.”

Monica nods, then goes quiet for a second. She clears her throat.

“Ernest—that’s his uncle, right?”

“Yeah.” I frown. “Why?”

She hesitates. “He approached me.”

“Approached you?” I blink. “You mean the other day?”

“Well—yeah. But not here. He waited for me outside. Just walked up to me on the street.”

I frown, confused. “Why? What did he want?”

Monica hesitates again, then gives me a guilty look. “He asked me to ‘talk some sense into you.’ And yes, that’s a quote.”

“Talk some sense…” My jaw tightens. I already know where this is going.

“Yup.” Monica sinks into the chair. “He thinks you and Xavier are sleeping together. Wanted me to convince you it’s a bad idea.”

My face burns, but I don’t say anything. I just pour myself a cup too.

“He also told me to keep our meeting a secret. So. Now you know.”

I sit across from her. “Don’t pay attention to him,” I say. “He believes whatever the papers say.”

“Okay.” She watches me for a moment. “Do you want to at least tell me what’s going on? Between you and Xavier?”

I want to. God, I want to. But if I say anything, I’ll fall apart right here at the table. My chest goes cold, tight, like everything inside me just shut down. Even if I wanted to talk, I wouldn’t know where to begin.

“Honestly…nothing’s going on.” It comes out quiet. Flat. I take a sip of tea, eyes fixed on the mug, my throat closing up around the lie.

But before she can ask anything else, the door downstairs rings.

“Can you get that?” I ask, my voice rough as I try to keep myself together.

“Sure,” Monica says, heading into the living room. I rub my eyes with the back of my hand until bright spots blur my vision, then take a sip of tea.

A minute later, I hear Katie’s voice. I blink a few times, straighten my collar, and step into the room.

“I’m Katie.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Monica.”

“You too.”

Katie spots me and grins.

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

We hug.

“Is this her?” Katie asks in a low voice, throwing Monica a knowing smile.