Page 96 of The Temptation of Truth

“Oh my God, calm down. Just calm down.”

“Name three things you can hear.”

I jump and spin around, seconds from releasing a terrified scream, but I swallow it back when I find Ezra Hawke splayed across the made bed.

“Ezra,” I gasp out, my palm pressed to my chest, and he grins.

“There’s one thing. Now do two more.”

I shake my head. “What are you doing in here?”

“Hendrix kicked me out of the primary bedroom.”

Every room in this house that I’ve seen has had an ensuite bathroom and a walk-in closet, so I’m not sure what he thinks makes the primary bedroom, but I don’t bother asking.

“You’re supposed to be in the pool house.”

“No shit? Is that where my band is?”

“Probably?”

He hops up and struts toward me. “Looks like you can have this one then, Lil Ham.”

I groan. “Please do not call me that.”

Ezra winks, ruffles my hair the same way Rocky did to Brynnlee earlier, and disappears back into the hallway without another word.

I wait thirty seconds and listen closely for any sound coming from the hallway and the bedroom. When I’m met with silence, I walk slowly to the bed, faceplant right onto the mattress, and let out a muffled, near-silent scream.

“I’m married,” I say into the plush comforter. “I’m married. I don’t love my husband and I’m pretty sure he secretly hates me, but I’mstillmarried.”

I keep repeating the word—married, married, married—but Mabel’s voice is still louder in my mind.

I’m a very good partner.

I’m a very good listener.

I wouldn’t stop.

If I were the one in your bed.

I groan and flop over onto my back so I can stare at the white ceiling.

It doesn’t matter. None of it matters. None of it means anything. She was speaking hypothetically. Empty words to prove a point.

“It means nothing.”

I say the words out loud, willing them to calm my racing heart and cool my heated blood, but the moment they reach in my ears, I know I’m screwed. Even I can hear the blatant lie in my voice. Even I can tell I’m full of crap.

I might be feeling something for Mabel Rossi, and it definitely doesn’t mean nothing.

21

MABEL

I raisemy hand to knock, hold it there for a few seconds, then drop it back to my side.

I wait, staring at the door as if I can see through the wood, but I can’t. When my vision starts to go unfocused, I blink and cast my gaze to the ceiling.