Page 48 of Pinch

“Wait…” I take a too-big sip of coffee and squeal from the burn. “What the hell?”

She’s not fazed at all by my near spit-take.

“I agree with you, the psychic part is ridiculous. I mean, how can anyone even prove that? Are they speaking dog language? It’s silly.” She shakes her head. “But the hypnosis part is very interesting. They say it can soothe behavioral problems related to stress, that it can help calm anxiety and promote relaxation.”

I can’t drink any more coffee now that I’ve scalded myentire mouth and throat. “I guess it makes sense. Therapy can be calming”

We stand and start for the door. “I wonder if it would work for humans.”

I’m mostly teasing. I actually wouldn’t mind having a psychic tell me what’s going to happen when the guys return this evening, or even what’s going to happen, period. Do I dare to trust Gavin Knight? Is that even what he wants? Is he really a player who’ll break my heart as easily as he’ll snatch a puck?

“I think Gavin is working out well.” Again, it’s like she’s reading my mind. “I mean, it was a big surprise to have a fourth roommate all of a sudden, but he’s a big help. He seems like a really nice guy.”

“He seems that way.” I look ahead at the sidewalk, trying to reconcile the past and the present.

“Mav said he went to UNC. Did y’all know each other?”

I shrug. “Not really. He dated my roommate Karen, but it didn’t last.”

“I can see that.” Gigi polishes off her latté and drops it in a bin. “She always struck me as sort-of a loose cannon. Can you say that about a girl?”

I frown at her. “I don’t know. Why would you say that?”

“That time she came home with you for spring break? She was hitting on all the guys at the beach.”

My throat tightens. “Are you sure? She’s really a friendly person.”

“She wasn’t very friendly to me. I got the impression she wished I would take the dogs for a long walk and not come back.”

The tightness in my throat moves down to my chest. “You think she wanted something bad to happen to you?”

“I think she wanted me to get lost so she could have all the boys to herself.”

I snuggle Patsy under my neck unsure how to take this. “You didn’t know her very well.”

“No, but I’ve met the type before. Why are you defending her?”

“I’ve known her a long time. She’s an International Princess Woman, so every summer, we spent a few weeks together. It was like camp.”

“Maybe you didn’t know her as well as you think you did.” Gina arches her eyebrow, pushing the front door open with her back.

“I thought I did.” Only now I’m feeling less confident. “And we shared things.”

My cousin frowns. “Like what? Clothes?”

A knot is in my throat. I’ve never told anyone this. “Remember Rob Westcoat?”

“The guy you dated in college?”

I nod. “I found out he was cheating on me junior year.”

Her jaw drops, and she reaches over to grab my wrist. “No!” I nod, and she steps closer to hug me. “That bastard. I knew I hated him.”

“The same thing happened to Karen, and I guess it sort of made us closer.”

“You bonded through trauma.” Gigi nods, giving me another squeeze before stepping back to meet my eyes. “I guess if she was a good friend to you when you needed her…”

“Don’t tell anybody that.” I look down at my hands. “It’s so embarrassing. It kind of messes with your head, like why didn’t I see it? Or why wasn’t I enough?”