Page 45 of Dual Surrender

“Ever?”

“Well, when we met, rather when we first got together there was a little bit where things were weird. We didn’t see eye to eye on some things.”

“That!” I said, louder than I’d meant. “That’s what I’m talking about.”

“Just patience.”

“Not my strong suit.”

“Not Richard’s either.”

“Things are just weird right now,” I said. “Things are changing.”

“I mean…” Sam sucked in a breath. “Does this have to do with Foster?”

“It doesn’tnothave to do with him, I don’t think.”

“Yeah. That’s going around. Richard is worried about him and Sage,” Sam said.

I couldn’t stop myself from scoffing. “I could not care less about him and that man.”

It was a bit of a lie. Foster was my friend, but…

“Don’t you want him to be happy?”

“Iwant to be happy,” I corrected.

“Aren’t you?”

“Question of the hour.” I picked up my fork and shoved it back into the quickly cooling macaroni, spearing a bite into my mouth.

“You’re being dismissive,” Sam said softly. “Did you call me for advice or did you just want to whine?”

“How am I being dismissive?” I asked, frowning at the counter.

“Of me, I mean.”

“How am I being dismissive of you?”

“Question of the hour,” he repeated back to me and I threw the paper macaroni bowl into the trash, tossing the fork into the sink.

“Do you think that your relationship is more complicated than mine because you’re older? Or because you like more pain and less service?” Sam’s voice had an edge of bitterness to it, and I felt properly scolded, an embarrassed flush climbing up my throat.

“It’s not like that. I’m sorry.”

“What’s wrong then?”

“Things with Ronan had gotten…stagnant? I don’t think that’s a fair word. Maybe boring,” I tried.

“Predictable.”

I hated that he was right about so much.

“So we’re spicing things up,” I said. “Ronan thinks… well, both of us think that maybe doing something more fulltime is what we need.”

“Hmn. 24/7? Speaking of, I heard about the coffee table thing. Rich seemed to like it.”

“So I heard,” I muttered.