Page 100 of Firecracker

“Why do you celebrate all those days…like National Muffin Day, or whatever?”

For some reason, she didn’t hesitate to tell him the truth, even though it probably sounded pathetic. “I started doing that when…when I wasn’t so happy.”

“After Michael died?”

“Before, actually. I wanted to remind myself that…no matter how bad things are, there’s always something to celebrate.”

His arm tightened around her again and his breathing changed. She heard him swallow. She relaxed into his body and his embrace.

A moment later, he asked quietly, “Are you going to sleep?”

“Maybe…?” Then her eyes popped open wide. “Oh. Do you want me to go home?”

“Jesus, no.” He kissed her again and pulled her back against him. “Night, Arden. Go to sleep. Right here.”

“’Kay.” She relaxed again.

“Where you belong,” she thought she heard him murmur as she drifted off.

Chapter Twenty

“What the hell did you do?”

Arden’s eyes swiveled to Mila as she marched into Jamie’s living room. She, Jamie, and Tyler were waiting for Mila before heading to the supper club to watch Danny perform.

“What’s up, hon?” Arden asked tentatively, taking in Mila’s tense posture and flashing eyes.

“You.” Mila pointed at Tyler.

Tyler’s eyebrows rose and a flush spread over his cheekbones. “What?”

“You went to see Garth.” Mila advanced on him. “Why did you do that?”

He lifted his chin. “Because he fucked with you, that’s why.”

“Argh.” Mila closed her eyes briefly, her fingers curling into her palms.

Arden’s gaze flicked back and forth between them. Tyler’d said he was going to have a chat with Garth, and she’d told him that wasn’t a good idea, but… “What happened?” she asked quietly.

“Now he wants to get back together!” Mila planted her hands on her hips and glared at Tyler.

“Isn’t that what you wanted?” He met her stare head-on.

“No! He was in love with someone else!”

“He wasn’t,” Tyler protested. “He realized he’d made a mistake.”

“I don’t care!” Mila’s voice rose.

Arden jumped up and moved over to her, setting a hand on her back and rubbing. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “Calm down.”

Mila sucked in a long breath. “He’s an asshole, okay? He treated me like crap, and I don’t care if he made a mistake. He thought he was in love with someone else, and that’s it. We’re done. And anyway, he doesn’t like ladyhead, so why would I want him back?”

“Uh…” Tyler’s mouth fell open and Jamie coughed.

Arden tried not to laugh. “Good point.” She turned an I-told-you-so glare on Tyler, eyebrows raised.

He grimaced and rubbed a hand over his face. “Sorry, Mila. You were hurt, and I thought…I just wanted to make things better for you.”

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