Page 19 of The One for Forever

I stand up and stretch as I yawn. I’m wearing some of Lark’s clothes. Baggy shorts, a concert T-shirt, slouchy socks.

Giggling comes from the nearby bedroom. The subtle squeak of a mattress shifting. So I’m not the only one who’s up.

Smiling, I head to the bathroom, then the kitchen to make coffee. If they’re getting frisky in there, hopefully the sounds of the coffee maker will cover the noise. For the sake of their privacy, not because I’m jealous.

Well, notthatjealous.

I search the cabinets until I spot the coffee and filters, humming to myself. There’s a stack of knitted potholders on the counter. Lark’s new hobby. Danny’s a firefighter, so he works long hours, and she took up knitting to keep herself busyduring his nights at the station. She made Danny an awful, lopsided sweater, and of course he wears it every time the temps dip below sixty. Which isn’t much given that this is Southern California. But I give the guy credit for trying.

It’s wonderful to witness Lark and Danny’s epic happily ever after, given everything they’ve been through in the past. Lark especially. They’re such a perfect match for each other. Yet it can be hard to be around all that lovey-doveyness sometimes.

My perfect match must be out there somewhere too. After this stupid murder trial is over, I might have a chance to get out there and find him.

Preferably with some distance restored between me and Rex.

The bedroom door opens, and Lark steps out. Her long black hair is disheveled, and I think I spy a hickey peeking from the neckline of her oversized West Oaks FD shirt. She pads into the kitchen, tattooed arms only half visible.

“Morning. Oh, you got the coffee started? Thank you.”

“You know me. Usually up early.”

“To run. I know.” She sticks out her tongue. “Danny’s tried to get me into the running cult. No thank you. Nothing but carbs and caffeine in the a.m. for me.”

“And a sexy quickie?” I nod at her neck.

Laughing, Lark pulls a sleeve of bagels from the fridge. “Wasn’t going to go there. But yeah. Of course.”

When Lark and I first met, she was hesitant around me. Especially after Cliff and his big mouth spilled that Danny and I had hooked up in the past. But I’d promised Lark that it hadn’t been a thing. I’d been in law school, starved for touch and with no time to date between hours of class time, reading case law, and issue-spotting. And back then, Danny was fairly free with his affections. If you know what I mean.

But Danny and I were never more than friends with a few benefits, mostly cuddling and kissing. I’ve never spelled that outto Lark, because there’s no way she wants the details on me and Danny. But the truth is, I’ve never been that into sex. I lost my virginity to a college boyfriend, and it was fine. Not bad. Same with my few hookups. But there were no fireworks. I’ve been waiting for that special spark of passion that other people talk about, and I haven’t found it yet.

Except, of course, for someone who obviously isn’t a candidate.

I haven’tconstantlypined for Rex. I’ve been too busy for that. I had other crushes here and there. But my feelings for him have never gone below a simmer, always ready to flare up at the least encouragement.

I pour Lark a cup of coffee, then one for me. She leans against the counter, warming her hands on her mug. “So, what exactly happened last night?”

I groan. “Craziness.” When she and Danny heard I needed a place to stay, they just said to come over. They didn’t push me for a bunch of explanations. It had been late, and I’d been exhausted. “It’s about a murder trial we have coming up. Some vague threats.” Lark’s brows shoot up, and I add, “It’s nothing very serious yet. Our trial team is going to have extra security as a precaution. I’m sure it’ll be a pain.”

Lark gets a knowing smirk. “And is a certain handsome bodyguard the one who’s been assigned to protect you? Don’t deny it. I saw him drop you off.”

“It’s…true. Yeah.” I glance at the bedroom door, which remains closed. “Rex was with me last night when some creep tried to accost me with a milkshake. He took the hit. Ruined his tuxedo shirt.”

“No way! Who throws a milkshake?”

“My thought exactly. It’s a waste of good chocolate. But anyway. I managed to avoid him for six months before last night, and then he turned up, being all chivalrous and kind andprotective.” I drop my voice to a whisper. “He told me he’d missed me.”

She gasps. “How dare he? What a monster.”

“I know, right?”

Lark knows all about my sad tale. That was how we first bonded. Over confessions and tequila shots. She and Danny don’t have secrets from one another, but she’s told me this ismysecret, not hers. If Danny found out, he’d probably spill it to Cliff in five seconds.

She tops up our coffees. “I saw you in that gown last night. You looked hot. Rex would be an idiot if he didn’t notice how amazing you are, and he’s no idiot. Are you sure there’s no chance?”

“Don’t get in my head with that kind of reasoning. I’ve known the man for too many years. It’s hopeless.”

“But for a lot of those years, you were too young. Now you’re practically thirty.” She squints at me. “Is that a wrinkle?”

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