Page 69 of Filthy Liar

Sure. That’s sort of true on a cosmic level.

The next day,I’m discharged, and the Marshals clear me to stay with Jason. He takes me back to his place, which is palatial compared to my apartment in Georgetown, but just as Spartan.

“As you can see, I never got around to decorating.”

“We have that in common.”

“On the upside, there’s lots of room for your stuff.” Jason smiles awkwardly. “If you’re willing to move in here while you recuperate.”

“I…” I let out a shaky laugh. “Yeah. I’m willing.”

“I wasn’t sure.”

The space between right now and when I might be able to get on a plane and go home to California seems both infinite and minute at the same time. “We haven’t had much privacy to talk about…everything.”

“I don’t want to rush you.”

“I love you.” They come out in such a rush, they sound like a single word. “I know it’s very complicated, and we have spent more time not trusting each other than actually being honest, but deep down and through it all, I have found my way back to you over and over again. I’m messy, Jason. Messy and carrying a lot of baggage. I, unlike you, am not fine. Not at all. But when you told me that you loved me, that gave me all the strength I needed. And I just wanted to say it back. No strings attached.”

“No strings?”

I shake my head. “I don’t expect anything in return.”

“Okay.” He shrugs. “Sounds good.”

Then he walks out of the living room.

My mouth falls open. “Jason!”

He comes back. “Yeah?”

“I lied. Maybe. I do expectsomethingin return for that. Like…I dunno.”

“Do you want to talk more about moving in here?”

I live in California. “Sure.” I swallow hard. “I may not have a lot of stuff, but I do have an aloe vera plant named Monica. She needs a window seat. That’s important.”

He nods. “I like Monica. We can make sure she has a place of honor.”

“You like her?”

“I like her very much. She reminds me of you.”

“Prickly?”

“Prickly on the outside. Wet and juicy on the—” He cuts himself off and closes the gap between us. “No?” He howls as I shove him gently. “I mean, slippery and sweet—” Another shove, although I have zero strength right now. “How about beautifully slick and unexpectedly healing on the inside?”

“We can accept that.” But I’m secretly happy that he’s making wet pussy jokes. That has to be a sign that he’s getting over his guilt at seeing me shot, and back to seeing me as a desirable woman. “Do you want to show me the rest of the apartment?”

“Yeah.” He takes my hand and guides me through the kitchen, then down a hallway. There’s an office first, and a workout room across from it, and at the end, a door to a large master bedroom.

In the window is my aloe vera plant, and she looks very happy.

28

Jason

I’m so fuckingnervous as Ellie stands in my bedroom, looking at her plant. Not saying anything.

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