Page 66 of Dangerous Secret

“You’re not leaving already?” she said…pouted.

“Things to do, places to go.” Fresh air to breathe. Why was it whenever he was in this house, he felt like he was breathing toxic fumes?

Chapter 30

Harlow’s time with Lena went by too fast. “I don’t want you to go.” She hugged her friend.

“Promise you’re not going to disappear on me again.”

“Never. I promise. Text me when you get home so I know you arrived safely.”

“I will.” Lena hugged her again.

“Tell J.D. I said hi.”

“You should come tell him yourself. He’d love to see you.”

“I’d love a trip to Atlanta. As soon as I have Tyler back, okay?”

“That will be soon, Harlow. I just know your man’s going to come through for you.”

Harlow chuckled. “He’s not my man.”

“So you say. I better get on the road. Love you, girl.”

“Love you, too.”

Harlow closed the door, locked it, then leaned back against it. Alone again. The apartment was too quiet. Even Einstein was silent. Probably because he’d worn out his voice the past two days nonstop chattering to Lena, telling her his life story.

She walked to where he was curled up on the sofa napping. “Well, boyo, it’s just you and me again.” He twitched his tail, but otherwise ignored her.

There was work to do, but she just didn’t feel like it. Having Lena here for two days had been what she’d needed, but now, the emptiness of the apartment was unbearable. The walls were closing in on her, and she needed to get out for a while. Grabbing her keys, she headed out the door and down the stairs.

Without thinking of where she was going, she ended up at the dog park a few blocks from home. She came here on her walks sometimes, always thinking how much Tyler would enjoy watching the dogs play with each other. A tiny Yorkie was busy bossing around a German shepherd and a beagle. She smiled as she watched them.

Soon, she would be able to bring Tyler here. She’d be able to watch his face as he laughed at the dogs’ antics. She’d be a mother again. “Soon, baby,” she whispered.

A warm summer breeze brushed across her cheeks, and she closed her eyes, lifting her face to the sun. The short walk, the fresh air and the sunshine had been the medicine she’d needed. Work she’d ignored during Lena’s visit was waiting for her, and she was ready to get to it.

As she pushed away from the fence, movement behind her caught her eye, and she grinned at seeing her downstairs neighbor jogging up to her. “Hi, Ronnie.” Ronnie was a nurse practitioner at a pediatrician’s office by day and a drummer in an alternative rock band by night. Quite a juxtaposition was Ronnie. For his day job, he wore his hair in a man bun, and when he drummed, he let it fall loose. She’d seen him leaving for a gig wearing black eyeliner and his fingernails painted black.

He slung his arm around her. “Hey, neighbor. Haven’t seen you in a while.”

“That’s because you’re never home.”

“When are you going to go out with me?”

She laughed. He asked her that every time he saw her. “And try to compete with all your groupies? Besides, I’d feel like a cougar if I dated you.” He was only three years younger than her, but her life and his were so far apart that it felt more like a decade.

He growled like a big cat. “I like cougars.”

They both knew they’d never date, but she liked him. He made her laugh. “You going or coming?”

“Coming. I don’t have a gig tonight. Want to order a pizza?”

“Sure.” He was a sometime friend, and occasionally, they’d order pizza and watch a movie.

As they approached their building, she groaned at seeing the black Mercedes parked behind her car. “You better head on to your apartment.”

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