Page 32 of The Healing Touch

He stabbed his fork at her. “It shall be my blackmail photo.”

“Please. You think I don’t have at least a dozen of those I can use myself? More memes like the one of you running off the stage to the toilet?”

His eyes widened, and she snorted her laughter. “Promise me, Becca. No bathroom memes. I still haven’t lived the last ones down.”

“We’ll see. It all depends upon whether that photo you just took of me ever sees the light of day.”

Dimitri’s phone buzzed, and he looked down, alarmed. When he answered the phone, Becca saw it was Sara Jane, only she wasn’t just calling, she was FaceTiming him.

“I thought you were too busy to come eat with us? And now you’re posting food photos? What the hell, Dimitri?”

She sounded hurt, and Becca felt bad. “You can blame me. He refused to abandon me in the hotel.”

Dimitri tilted the phone so Sara could see her. “Is that you, Becca?”

“In the flesh.”

“It’s so nice to talk to you!” Sara beamed. “I know we’ve chatted in text and on messenger, but it’s great to finally put a face to the name. You could have come with, by the way. I invited you too.”

“I know, I’m sorry. I’m just not big on crowds, and Dimitri, being the awesome friend he is, wouldn’t let me sit by myself in a hotel room eating cold pizza while he was scarfing hot food somewhere.”

“We’re at the Hibachi place.” Sara Jane turned her head and spoke to someone before looking back at them. “I understand about the crowds too, honey. My daughter hates them. Are you guys coming over tonight to set up?”

“Yeah. I’ve been informed she’ll kick my ass if I don’t.”

“I said no such thing!”

“She did.” He nodded and leaned forward. “She even threatened to kick me in the balls so hard I’d be out of action for a whole month.”

“Asshole.” She bumped his shoulder. “You’re such a liar!” Well, she did threaten his balls, but not in the context he was joking about.

“I’m an author. I lie for a living.”

Sara Jane laughed at their antics. “You two are adorable.”

“See? I keep telling you I’m adorable, but why you refuse to see it, I don’t understand. Sara Jane gets it.”

“It comes from knowing you for so many years.”

“How long have you two known each other?” Sara looked over her shoulder and shrugged.

“What is it, eight, nine years or something?” He reached over and absently popped one of her fries into his mouth before she could stop him. Uh-oh. Duck really didn’t sit well with him.

“Ummm, D?”

“Yeah?” He reached for another fry.

“Do you want to spend the night on the toilet?”

“Of course not.”

“Then stop stealing my damn fries.”

He paused, fry midway to his mouth, and then he dropped it, horror flowing into his expression. “Shit.”

Becca laughed so hard she had to turn away so she could double over. Shit was definitely the word to use, considering what duck fat did to him.

“What’s so funny?” Sara demanded.

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