Page 65 of Red King

I look down at my plate. I normally love mac and cheese. I’ve only eaten a few mouthfuls, and I can’t anymore.

It was the same at lunch. Tuna salad is one of my favorites, and most of it ended up in the trash.

I pick up my phone and open up my chat with Arctic. I look at the unsent message I typed out earlier.

Thanks, but no. It isn’t a good idea. Please don’t pressure me. It doesn’t matter what you say, I won’t change my mind.

My finger hovers over the send arrow, but I can’t do it.

I groan and put my phone down. Then I force myself to eat another forkful but don’t taste a thing. It feels like a brick hitting my stomach.

I need to send him the message, insist on reporting to Thorn, and be done with it. I pick up my phone again, but there is a knock at my door.

I gasp, putting my phone down.

Is it him?

No. I’m being stupid. The ball is in my court. He isn’t coming over. He’s waiting for my decision.

I sigh and go to open the door.

“Hi, babe.” Maggie smiles at me. “I was forced to finally come over here because you didn’t answer the text I sent you this afternoon. Or the one I sent you an hour ago. I don’t like being ignored.”

“I’m sorry, it’s been a crazy day. I was just eating dinner and planned to respond as soon as I finished, I swear.”

Crap!

I can’t tell Maggie any of what went down. I don’t plan on following through and actually sleeping with Arctic, but he asked me not to divulge anything to a third party and I already failed miserably at that.

“Come in,” I tell her. “I heated one of those meals for one. Can I throw one in the microwave for you, too?”

She follows me into the dining room.

“I’m kinda sorta having dinner with Hazard at his place, which is amazing. He’s in a three-bedroom home with a wrap-around porch. I was duly impressed.”

“Dinner? Hmmmmmm.” I lift my brows. “That’s pretty romantic.”

“I told him that it had better not be anything romantic.” She shakes her head. “That’snotgoing to happen. He’s barbecuing some prime rib for me. I gotta eat, and so does he, so we might as well do it together.”

“Oooohhhh! Sounds good. Better than a heat-and-eat meal, at any rate.” I look down at my half-eaten plate of food. It doesn’t look very appetizing at all.

“Do you want something to drink? I don’t have any wine.” I make a face. “I do have—”

“I’m here for the juice. Spill! What happened with Arctic? Why have you been avoiding me?”

“There isn’t much to say.” I shrug. “It went as expected. Arctic was horrified about what happened, just like I was. It happened. We agreed to forget all about it and to never speak of it again. There isn’t much to tell. That’s why I haven’t responded to you yet. I didn’t want to disappoint you.”

Maggie starts laughing. She even hits her thigh she’s laughing so hard.

“What is so funny?” I widen my eyes, frowning. “I didn’t think it was so hilarious.”

“Did I tell you I have three sisters?” She holds up three fingers.

“Um…no. How is that relevant?”

“I have an older sister and two younger ones. And let me tell you, sisters lie all the damned time. Especially when there are so many of them living in one house. They steal your clothes – they lie. They hog the bathroom – they lie about when they’ll be done and why they need the bathroom in the first place. They sneak out and lie. Do you know what happens when you live in a house where people lie a lot?”

“No, I have one sister, and we don’t lie to each other…ever.”

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