Page 238 of Back in the Saddle

Raye chuckled.

Harlow turned on Luna. “I’m not hooking up with Javi. He didn’t even ask for my number.” She swung her attention to me. “And did he ask after me when you saw him before he went to the safe house?”

“I mentioned you,” I told her.

“And what did he say?” she demanded, a super curious look in her eye.

“He told me I was a pain in his ass,” I shared.

The curious light died, and I felt like a bitch.

“He was literally walking to the car to head to a safe house, Lolo,” I reminded her. “And he just lost two friends. I don’t think that puts a man in a romantic mood.”

“So there’s one thing in the negative column of the when-do-I-gotta-get-me-some list for when the opposite sex doesn’t have a mind to get him some,” Luna chimed in.

“Speaking of getting some, we’ve been waiting, since it’s clear you and Eric broke the seal, and you’ve said nada. Zip. Zilch.” Raye aimed this accusation at me.

She was right.

How did I miss doing that?

“Okay. I can confirm you’re correct. We broke the seal,” I said, and then I smiled hugely. “Since, we’ve ripped it to shreds and set it on fire.”

“Right on,” Raye said, grinning at me.

“Which nightie did you go for?” Luna asked.

I frowned. “It was a dud. A cotton stretchy thing. Which makes me glad this is over, and I have tomorrow off. I can go shopping and get new ones. Eric said it wasn’t the nighties, it’s the woman in them, but still. I know he gets off on them. And now I have to one-up my best ones, which is going to be a challenge.”

“He said it’s the woman in them?” Harlow asked. At my nod she smiled. “That’s so sweet!”

“I don’t have anything on tomorrow. I can go shopping with you,” Luna offered.

“I have to pack for the move,” Harlow put in.

“Plan,” Raye announced. “We bring Bosa and coffees to Harlow in the morning to help her pack. And in the afternoon, we go sexy nightie shopping.”

“I’m in,” Luna said.

Harlow clapped. “Ohmigod, guys! That would be so helpful!”

“I need to talk to Eric,” I told them. “Henny’s home alone and I don’t want him home alone all day tomorrow. I’ll see if Eric can hang out while we do girl shit. Speaking of…” I looked to Alvarez, who was staring at all of us like we’d just beamed down from our spaceship. “Are we done here? I need to check on HomerandI got a new cat today, he’s home alone, and he needs his mommy.”

Alvarez didn’t answer my question.

He muttered, “I am so screwed,” got right up and walked right out.

A couple of minutes later, a uniform swung in to tell us we could go, and Eric and Cap were waiting to take us home.

By the by, on the way to go check on Homer, Eric confirmed that he’d look after Henny for me so I could help Harlow pack and then go look for nighties (I didn’t tell him that part, just said “shopping,” after which, even driving, his eyes glazed over).

Totally.

He was the best.

* * *

The second not-so-funthing that happened didn’t last as long and wasn’t as annoying (though, it was close, with the annoying part).

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