Page 65 of Absinthe Dreams
“I worked really hard to become a doctor,” I said and scrubbed my face with my hands.
“I know.” He pulled me in and hugged me tight, and I wrapped my arms around him, too. I rested my head on his chest and sighed.
“You’re not mad at me?” I asked, and he kissed the top of my head.
“Not about this, no.”
“Offended?” I asked.
“Nope, not that either.”
“Anything else bad?”
He chuckled and said, “Nope, we’re all good, baby.”
I closed my eyes and sighed with relief.
“I was really worried we might be about to have our first fight.”
“Naw.” He shook his head. “That’d be some really stupid shit for me to get upset about. I totally understand the optics, and I think it’s good we adopt a policy now that nothing gets said in public, on the phone, or any other shit like that. If you want or need to know, all you ever need to do is ask me – but in person and here at home. How’s that sound?”
I nodded and looked up at him. “Agreed, any time something comes up that might have to do with your world—” I stopped,frowned, and said, “Well,thatworld, we just say ‘talk about it at home,’ does that sound about right?”
“Sounds perfect,” he said. “Thank you for not getting pissy and for waiting until we got home to talk.”
I laughed a little at that and said, “Did we justadult?Like, were we just the adultiest adults of all time?”
He grinned slowly and said, “I think we were, yeah.”
I smiled back and we just gravitated toward one other and kissed, which was ruined by Charlie and his incessant yowling and twining around our legs hoping for his dinner.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Chainsaw…
I couldn’t get Gen off my mind. I felt like I’d dodged a bullet after Marchesi’s, but what I’d told her was the truth. Ihadtaken down a tree at Joe Marchesi’s Nonna’s place, and I had cut them a good damn deal on it. That tree had easily been a job in excess of the amount I’d charged him.
I still felt guilty as hell when I’d opened the envelope and found a note asking for the club’s help on a completelydifferentmatter thatwasn’texactly legal, with a payment in excess of ten grand, and the promise of moreafterthe job had been completed.
Now I was at the table with my brothers to discuss said matter and see if we wanted to take the job.
“Well, shit – not like this could have come at a worse time.” Hex sucked his teeth.
“Since when do these opportunities ever come at therightone?” LaCroix intoned.
“The Marchesi family’s always been good to us,” Cypress said.
“That was in the bad ol’ days. They been pretty quiet since the schism.” Axeman looked like he was doing the math andthat it wasn’t mathin’ right. When he had his hackles up, I paid attention.
“It’s not like weneedthe money,” Bennie declared.
“It ain’t about the money.” LaCroix leaned back in his seat with a heavy sigh.
“There’s more currency than cash out there. This is about reputation. This is a test,” Hex said.
“What, you thinkin’ Marchesi’s checkin’ up on us? Seein’ if we’re still friends?” Saint asked.
“Either that, or they’re helpin’ anoldfriend oftheirsout with this,” I said, catching Axe’s look across the table.
