Page 49 of Uncharted

“What are you singing?” Haley leans against the doorframe to the galley. “It feels like a year since I baked cupcakes for Emily.”

“Sassy! Just the person I always want to see. Come here... I was singing? I didn’t even realize I was.” I put the knife down and pull her into my arms. I kiss the top of her head and then hold her away from me. I study her face. There’s no residual red puffiness caused by tears. If anything, her lips look puffy. I run my thumb over her lip. She sucks my thumb into her mouth.

“Yummy, onions. There’s something I never thought I would say.” Haley runs her fingers through my hair.

I swing around and pick up an onion. “Oh, this is the base of everything good. Well, everything besides you. Damn, seeing you here... I had a lot of wet dreams of you and me and this kitchen counter.”

She laughs.

“That’s no laughing matter, Sassy. How did your talk with Sam go?”

“My talk?”

Now I’m feeling like my sister back in high school when she was trying to get all the tea about my friends out of me. I’d gone to the all-boys Catholic school, the one where all the boys she was crushing on went, while she was going to public school. Something else my SOB uncle decided had to happen.

I started the hard conversation; I might as well finish it. “You were in the wheelhouse talking to Sam.” It hits me that I have to tell her that I told him. Because it’s going to come out. And when it does, it will be better from me.

“He knew. At first... at first I was terrified. But then, once I realized it was Sam and not some scary guy, I relaxed. I’d figured he knew about Calvin, at least.”

“Yeah, that goodbye kiss last night didn’t leave any doubts, did it? But he knew.” I say it as a statement. I raise my eyebrows at her, telling her without telling her that it was me who spilled the beans.

“How can you be so... Dante? I told you not to say anything.”

“Yes, and I should say I’m sorry, but I’m not. Did it make the talk easier?”

“Dante.” She stares at the cabinet above my head. “I mean, yes. But I said not to.”

“Are you mad?”

“I’m not mad. I’m upset. I told you not to, and you did.”

“Right. Have you ever had more than one boyfriend before?”

“No. You know I haven’t.”

“Well, you need to keep everything out in the open. It’s the only way. If you start to have secrets with one person, that’s how things implode.”

“Have you have you had more than one girlfriend?”

“I’ve had more than one partner before, yes, Sassy. But that was a long time ago. They’re still together. I’m not big on social media, but the last time I checked, they were.”

“Oh.”

“Does that bother you?”

“I mean, no. But yes.”

I give her a kiss on her ear. “That’s the only correct answer, Sassy. But right now, for the record, I love you. And I’ll try not to go and do anything drastic again. But no promises, because drastic is my middle name.”

“I thought it was Saffron?”

“I’m like the King of England. I’ve got lots of middle names. Some you can even say in public.” The wind changes direction, and I can smell the grill from the back deck.

“What are you making? It smells fantastic.”

“Baked pasta with jar sauce, but I’ve got canned tomatoes. Next time, it will be even better. I’m going to make onion soup for dinner. And something even better. Lift that lid over there.” I point at the large bowl.

She lifts it and jumps. It’s exactly what I thought she would do. “Bread? You’re making bread?

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