Page 50 of My UnTrue Love
“Yes, Johnny and I were best friends, until it all fell apart.”
“Oh, I can guess how it ‘all fell apart’.” Luke mocked. “At least for dumb ol’ Johnny.Billwrecked everything.”
“Don’t be silly. Bill didn’t do a thing to…”
Luke cut her off. “How do you know this other guy is having sex with Rosalee?”
“Bill told me.”
Luke made a frustrated sound, like he couldn’t understand how she was falling for some very obvious trick. “He’s lying, so you’d move in with him! Bill’s sleeping with Rosalee himself and framing this Johnny guy to break up your friendship.”
The idea of Rosalee and Bill together had Clementine’s stomach sinking. “Johnny ruined our friendship all on his own. And if Bill was sleeping with Rosalee, he would tell me so.”
“No, he wouldn’t. Coyotes are liars.”
“Youarea coyote.”
“That’s how come I know it’s true.” Luke’s pale brown eyes burned into hers. “Look, you seem… nice. I’ve never met anyone nice before. I kind of like it. I don’t knowwhy, but I kind of do.”
Clementine felt herself soften. Artists were comfortable with muses, even when the artist was a snarky, surly teenager. It was instinctive. She couldn’t understand why Luke was so worried about her relationship with Bill, but she could tell he was trying to protect her. It was sweet, in an unnecessary, exasperating sort of way.
“I like you too, Luke.”
“I didn’t say I likedyou.” He stressed grumpily. “I said I liked your niceness. Kind of. But it’s making you think other people are nice too and that just ain’t so. That guy,” he pointed after Bill, “is Bad news. You’ve got a True Love out there someplace. He’s probably nice, just like you. Go find him and forget about the hardass coyote.”
“Bill pretends to be a much bigger hardass than he is.” Clem assured him. “He’s really very gentle.”
Luke looked up at the sky, as if praying for patience. “Bill wants you.” He spelled out in a slow voice. “He’s a coyote. He knows he’ll have to steal you to get you. So that’s what he’s trying to do: Steal you. Understand?”
Clem’s eyes widened. “You really think he wants me?” She asked eagerly.
Luke gave up. Muttering a curse, he stalked back into his apartment, slamming the door behind him. “You’re fucking hopeless!” He shouted through the wood. “Forget I even bothered.”
Ten seconds later fiddle music started playing again. Only this song sounded like a funeral dirge.
At least it was in tune.
Chapter Eleven
A tri-faced figure dressed in plaid,
Each with powers cast,
Magic surged and all three had,
Spells within their grasp.
Lyrics from the folk song “Crossroads Coyote”
Johnny walked into the Lone Prairie and instantly spotted Clementine. She was sitting at the bar, on one of the wooden barrels that management used as stools. A mason jar full of lemonade was sitting by her elbow, as she worked on a stack of papers.
“Hey, Clem. I heard you were hanging out in this dump.” Johnny glanced around the rustic interior. “I hope you had your tetanus shots.”
Clementine took a fortifying breath at the sight of him. “Hi, Johnny.”
“Youlook great, though.” He enthused, heading her way. The words were rote. He said them to just about everybody, no matter how hideous. With her, though, he realized he actually meant them. She looked almost pretty, this afternoon. Like she’d taken special care with her outfit. Maybe she’d sensed he’d be dropping by.
“Thanks.” Clementine smiled. …But it wasn’t a wholehearted smile. Not like she’d used to give him, back when they’d been kids.
