Page 85 of Trust

“A what?”

“Date. You know that thing men and women do when they like each other.”

“But she’s still pissed about the snafu from last week.”

Linc chuckled loudly. “I’ve just about mended all the fences I crashed through, and things are looking up.”

Adrenaline drained out of his limbs, and he watched Linc saunter toward the stairs. “Son of a bitch. Won’t even go one round with me.”

“Call Hoyt Doherty,” Linc called out. “The situation isn’t working out with Betsy, and he’s about as frustrated as you. You two can beat the hell out of each other because that’s sure to fix the trouble y’all created for yourselves.”

“I didn’t…” Unable to finish the sentence, he walked across the hall into the bathroom. He couldn’t use the one attached to his room anymore because it was filled with memories of Liv. Stupid claw foot tub. It taunted him every time he entered and acted like a neon sign reminding him of what he’d lost.

Maybe he should rip the thing out and install a shower with sixteen showerheads. That would surely fix what ailed him and ensure that he would be able to take a full breath at some point in the future.

Zane walked into the kitchen, ignored his cousin, and strode to the coffee pot to fill his cup. As usual, Killer was hot on his heel and parked his doggy behind at his feet. It turns out the little white ball of fluff excelled at standing sentry.

“Lucy reminded me that she would take Killer whenever you’re ready. She and Olivia don’t want the dog to end up at the pound or anywhere else.”

“What kind of ogre do they think I am?”

“That’s a rhetorical question, right?”

Zane strode over to the table and dropped into a seat. “Have you seen me without this dog for more than ten minutes since you arrived?”

“This isn’t the right time to discuss that misunderstanding with Betsy and Hoyt, right?”

He lifted the dog into his lap. “I never said that he could give the dog to Betsy. It was a desperate man making a desperate mistake.”

“And we’ll stick to that story no matter what.”

“What are you still doing here, anyway?” Zane gulped his coffee. “You’re usually at the bookstore by now.”

“Lucy is going in a little later today, so I’m hanging back until she’s ready to go.”

“And she can’t drive herself into town?”

“A question like that tells me exactly why you’ve been crying into your Cheerios and not loved up with your girl.”

“My therapist would say that’s projection.”

“The fact that you’ve got a damn therapist is thanks to me, so I don’t care what kind of psycho-babble you throw my way.”

Zane stroked Killer’s head. “I do appreciate you hooking me up with the guy. I never woulda thought of doing the phone sessions if you hadn’t suggested it.”

“Glad you’re sticking with it,” Linc replied.

“Losing the one person who makes the world feel okay kinda motivates a person to buckle down and face the stuff that made it possible.”

“All the same. Not everyone takes the opportunity to do the work.”

Unable to unjumble the emotions churning, he knocked fists with Linc and then drank more coffee.

“You know you’re lucky.”

“How’s that?” Zane asked.

“A terrific girl came along and gave you all the good reasons to leave the past where it belongs.”

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