Page 83 of The True Garza

“I’ve begged him to quit or demote to a less-demanding position, but he keeps choosing that inconsiderate asshole over me.”

“You think he’s choosing Tor only because you’ve never seen him in the field,” I say. “Reuben loves his job. If you force him to give it up before he’s ready….”

“I know…. It’s just so damn hard sometimes.” She makes a miserable sound. “I just wish Lyra was here. It’s bearable when she’s around for me to lean on.”

“Then I’ll be your Lyra until she gets back,” I volunteer. “Just call me. Anytime.”

“So you can narc on me? No, thanks.”

“Why would I narc if I’m Lyra?”

Eyeing me with distrust, she takes another pull of her slushy. “I heard you beat up some guy for hitting on London. Is it true?”

My phone lights up again.

Mel: I’ve been calling you. Wanna come over for a night cap later?

“Don’t know anything about that. I’m a child of God who prays for sinners; I don’t beat people up.”

She rolls her eyes. “Just don’t sleep with her, okay?”

“Why?”

“Because I like her and am pursuing a friendship with her. If you sleep with her and inevitably discard her, she won’t want anything to do with me. Like all the other clients Jules’s Touch has lost because of you.”

“Inevitably?”

She frowns. “Why do you look so offended? You have the attention span of a gnat. And, sure, you’re not an asshole, seeing as none of your flings ever has anything bad to say about you, but women are like Christmas presents to you. Nice and shiny when you open them, but forgotten by New Year’s Eve. And I’m not judging you, it’s your life. Just keep London out of it.”

The truth can be such a ruthless fucking gut-punch sometimes. “Why do you like her?”

Jules shrugs. “She’s just chill and straightforward. No bullshit. And not in a way that makes me uncomfortable or intimidated, but in a way that makes me feel safe around her, like I can trust her. She’s a whole mood, you know? Lyra willloveher.” She points her straw at me. “Just stay away from her, okay?”

Too late.

Way, way too late.

I’m in so fucking deep, I’ll need a backhoe to dig me out.

~

Kay: Are you free later? I want to take you out to dinner…

Ava: Hey you. I’ll be in Venice this weekend. Wanna hang?

“You mind putting your phone on silent?” Guy asks from where he’s seated at the front of the meeting room, doing whatever it is mad geniuses do.

“Do you fuck, Guy?” I set my phone down and stretch my arms over my head. “Like what’s your deal? I know you aren’t gay, ’cause I’ve seen how you check out Lyra when you think no one’s watching. Bad idea to leer at the boss’s woman, by the way.”

“Always so concerned about my sex life….”

I throw him a glance. “’Cause I don’t know you, Guy. Like, I know what you look like and that you exist, but Idon’tknow you, you know? It’s like, two birds sitting on a wall. And a duck floats by. But it’s bloated because it ate too much bread. Anyway, doesn’t matter. It hurts my brain.”

Guy sighs. “As always, talking to you is like tripping over a bundle of wires.”

And fucking with you is fun. “But I’m your favorite.”

“Why can’t you talk to her in your office? We’ve got a client meeting in ten minutes.”