Page 88 of Used

“I was up in a tree in St. Mary’s cemetery, letting the herd thin before a fight. You walked through. It was after we’d broken up and hadn’t talked in a couple of months. You were carrying some wildflowers from near the fence. You cleared off my dad’s grave, the way you’d seen me do, and you rested the flowers on top and talked to him, just as sweet as Kath or the baby would’ve. That’s when I knew. Deep down, I was always gonna be in love with you.”

She leans over me and kisses my chest. “I loved you as a teenager. Thought I got over it but obviously didn’t. Clearly, I’ll always be in love with you too.”

Chapter 13

Laurel

The sound of male laughter attracts me to the doorway of the game room.

“And you say to yourself, do I remind him he’s not a basketball? Or just go straight to calling the ambulance?” Trick says.

C responds; his voice is too low for me to make out the words. More laughter erupts from the room.

Leaning in, I wave to get Trick’s attention.

“Baby, come in,” C says. When I hesitate, he beckons me with his hand. “Yeah, come on in. You don’t have to be scared to walk in here.”

“I don’t want to interrupt. I just had a question for—” My finger extends to Trick who sets his cue stick against the wall and walks out to meet me.

“You all right?” he asks.

Nodding, I smooth down the front of my shirt. “I heard something and wanted to get your okay. Or your veto. Whichever.”

When I don’t say more, the corners of his mouth rise. “To render a verdict, I’m going to need a little more, babe.”

“You know…” I glance at the doorway and realize I should’ve thought through the timing of having a conversation about rumors that are circulating about us and how to deal with them. “I’ll talk to you about it later.”

“We’re going to play poker. Why don’t you come play?”

“Oh, no. I was going to finish—”

“I’d appreciate it.” His eyes are a dark sapphire as he watches me.

“And there will be no repercussions for me, if I clean all of you out?”

He throws his head back and laughs. “I promise.”

“It’s your money—all of it, since you’ll have to stake me.”

From down the hall, Zoe calls, “Hey, Laurelyn, come to the media room. It’s time to watch regency porn.”

Trick strolls down the hall. “What kind of porn?”

“It’s girl porn. Not for you,” Zoe says with cheeky grin. Then she stalks over to me and takes my arm.

“I bet I know.” Leaning in, I whisper the name of a Netflix historical romance series in her ear.

Zoe laughs. “Yes. Rachel hasn’t seen it. I’ve watched some parts of it twice.” Then she lowers her voice. “And others, six or seven times.”

“Understood. The duke is extremely beautiful. But a challenge has been issued, and so, I won’t be available for a few hours.”

“What challenge?”

“Poker.”

“Strip poker?” Zoe asks.

“No.”