Page 36 of Speak of the Devil

Me:

Be right over.

Cat:

You’re a wanted man. No hot dates to keep you entertained?

Me:

I’m entertained. Let’s go back to that stroking.

Cat:

LOL. How about we talk about you? How was the show?

She can’t do anything from the West Coast, so no need to worry a nurse over a little concussion.

Me:

It was good. The crowd was wild. I don’t want to talk about me when you’re much more interesting. How was your day?

Cat:

Wild here, too. The retirees at River Elms are protesting this week. They had pudding removed from the dessert table due to budget concerns. It’s now only available if someone is sick or needs softer food. Ginger snaps were broken in the kerfuffle.

Chuckling, I read her text several times, enjoying more each time.She’s so fucking cute.

Me:

Sounds dangerous. Stay safe out there.

I imagine her laughing, those pretty eyes of hers shining just for me while she texts.

Cat:

I’m prepared for Monday. I bought boxes of pudding to make. I’ll come bearing gifts to calm the residents. Nothing like getting high blood pressure readings because they didn’t get their pudding.

I’m about to type, but another message pops up:

It was good to hear from you, Shane. I’m exhausted from the day and heading to bed. Have a good night.

I get the hint, but I’m not sure how I feel about it. Maybe she’s just tired like I am. I’m not going to lie here second-guessing what her intentions are and take it at face value. I type:

You, too.

I’m close to calling her just to hear her say good night, but I set the phone down beside me instead. The door opens, and Laird looks in my general direction in the dark. “You alive, Shane?”

“Fuck off.”

“Sounds like you’re back to normal.” He closes the door.

I’m left with scrambled thoughts of Cat. Why do I feel so good when she’s around, even via text? This isn’t normal. We just reconnected, barely know each other, and only came back together with the common goal of getting divorced.

But there’s more to it, and Laird’s words come to mind.“It was just different with her.”

I bolt upright in bed, aggravating the knot on my head. Covering the pulse raging in my head, I try to quell the pain despite the epiphany that’s now rocking my world.

Shit.

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