Page 31 of Feared

Anthony stretched, checking his watch. “It’s getting late, almost eleven. You wanna go up?”

“Sure,” Mary said, though she hadn’t gotten much done.

“Good.” Anthony set the laptop aside, rose, and brushed down his jeans, flashing her a weary smile. “Can I get you anything?”

“How about a kiss?”

Anthony smiled, came over, and kissed her on the cheek, placing his hands on the soft arms of her chair. “How do you feel?”

“Fine,” Mary answered, meaning it. “Absolutely normal, for a pregnant person.”

“Tired?”

“A little.”

“Crampy?”

“No.”

“Bloated?”

“Very.” Mary smiled, touched. Anthony was learning girl lingo, but he spoke it like a second language, which made sense. She had never been so aware of the differences between men and women before, maybe it was because of the pregnancy, or the lawsuit. Oddly, it felt like there were two separate sides, the way John had said, and she wondered if that notion was true or testosterone-induced. Mary didn’t know, as testosterone was the only hormone she lacked.

Anthony smiled down at her, his gaze soft. “You’re preoccupied.”

“I was but it went away.” Mary smiled, and Anthony kissed her again, this time on the lips, slowly. She felt a distinct tingle, and when he pulled away, she told him so.

“You felt a tingle?” Anthony frowned. “You mean a cramp?”

Mary smiled. “No, a tingle comes from somewhere different.”

Anthony smiled back. “Somewhere off base?”

“Exactly. The forbidden zone.”

“Or the promised land.” Anthony laughed, and so did Mary.

“We shouldn’t have sex, but at least I want to.”

“It’s the thought that counts.” Anthony smiled. “We forgot to ask Dr. Foster when we could.”

“Because we know the answer. Like, in 2082.”

Anthony smiled. “When the kid leaves for college?”

“When thelastkid leaves for college,” Mary shot back, as her cell phone started ringing.

“Saved by the bell.” Anthony chuckled.

“Or interrupted.” Mary checked the screen, and it was Bennie calling, so she answered. “Bennie?”

“DiNunzio, did you hear?” Bennie’s tone sounded urgent, and Mary knew something was very wrong.

“Hear what? What’s the matter?”

“John’s dead. He’s been murdered.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN