Page 30 of Dark Reasons

"I can read," I assure her.

"Interesting," she gives me a coy smile. "Then, what did you read on my phone last night?"

"Nothing. I couldn't get into it." Parking the car, I cut the engine. "Are you going to make this a thing?"

"Sorry, is spying on me athing?"

"If I say I'm sorry, will it help?"

Selena levels a disgusted look at me across the car. "No, because I wouldn't believe you."

"Fair enough." Hopping out of the car I take long strides towards Egg Biscuit. Selena shouts as she hurries to follow. I'm inside the entrance before she catches up. I sense her arch her arm back, waiting for her to whack me in the shoulder. I don't dodge when she makes impact.

"You're such an ass," she scolds me.

"You said an apology wouldn't help." Shrugging, I meet eyes with the host. The young woman with straight black hair and a maroon headband heads our way. She's beaming politely. The way she greets every guest, I assume.

She flashes a pair of menus. "Hi there! I'm Jenny! Is a booth or table better?"

"Booth," I say, just as Selena snaps"Table."

Jenny blinks, chewing her perfectly placed pink lip stain. "Um..."

"Booth," I repeat myself firmly. "The most private one you have."

Our host gives me a sly grin, then a little cock of her shoulder. "Gotcha. This way."

"Good job," Selena grumbles at my elbow, "now she thinks we're dating."

A funny little flash of heat whips through my body. "I don't want people listening to our conversation," I explain in a whisper.

Selena makes a point of looking around the almost empty cafe. The interior is about triple the size of her apartment. There's a man sipping coffee by one of the windows, while a mother with a toddler—who won't sit still—takes up another booth. "I think we'll be fine."

"Here you go," Jenny says, setting the menus on the shiny table in the furthest corner from the door. The booth is a deep blue, matching the stripe along the wall at eye level. The entire cafe has a very soothing paint scheme. The kind of place you'd go for a coffee with friends...

Not to discuss a murder for hire contract.

"Can I get you some drinks?" Jenny asks after we sit.

"Coffee," I say.

Selena scans the menu with a thoughtful frown. "Orange juice, thanks."

Once Jenny is out of earshot, I lean towards Selena with my voice low. "Let's talk about your situation."

"My what?" she chuckles with an eyebrow lifting.

"A lot happened yesterday," I continue, keeping my tone serious, "I don't know if you processed everything completely."

"Uh, okay," she snorts with a wry grin. "Thanks for the concern, Doctor."

"You were pressured into making some decisions you maybe haven't thought through. All the possible risks, the downfalls. Things that should be weighed properly without adrenaline and emotion running high."

She lowers the menu onto the table. "Is this a fucking intervention?"

"Be open minded."

"No, no. Just stop a second," she says, stamping her fingertip on the vinyl. "Iwantto do this!"

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