Page 20 of Secrets & Desires
Nox was silent for a while. Livia studied him, her brow furrowed. “I hope I haven’tupsetyou.”
“No.” But he sat up and rubbed his face. He picked his shirt up and started to put it on. “Iguess,well…”
“What?”
“I guess I should tell you. Charvi and my mom…way before she was married to my dad, they were close.Veryclose.”
“Lovers?”
Nox nodded. “I was the only one who knew. My mom used to confide in me and she always told me, although she never regretted marrying my dad and having Teague and I, that she hated being estranged from Charvi. That she had loved herentirely.”
“Why did your momleaveher?”
Nox gave her a sad smile. “Family.”
“Enough said. God, the tragedy of it all.” She stroked his face. “Do you think that’s why your father went crazy? Hefoundout?”
“I don’t know, Liv, I honestly don’t. Dad was pretty open-minded, pretty progressive. I can’t imagine he would freak out over something like that. Then again, I never imagined he could kill my mother and brother in coldblood.”
Livia shivered. “My father was, or is, a drunk asshole but he never laid a hand on me. I can’t imagine what it must have been likeforyou.”
He kissed her forehead. “That’s the thing, he was a great dad.Reallygreat. None of those machismo, you-are-boys-so-you-must-be-tough and women-belong-in-the-kitchen crap. I guess I’ll neverunderstand.”
Livia was quiet for a while. “Why did the police believe he was guilty so easily, then? Why didn’t they look into itfurther?”
He looked surprised. “It was pretty cut and dried, sweetheart. They found Dad with the gun in his mouth, gunshot residue alloverhim.”
“He could have beenframed.”
“Unlikely, according to the forensic team, but I appreciate you thinking well of him.” He kissed her again. “What about you? You don’t talk about your familythatmuch.”
She shrugged. “Not much to tell. Only child, Mom was amazing, but cancer doesn’t discriminate. If the world was fair, it would havetakenDad.”
“Do you think you’ll ever see himagain?”
“I doubt it. It’s no loss, really. My family is here. Moriko and I met first semester in college and have been roommates ever since.” She checked her watch. “Talking of which, she’s due home any minute so you might want to getdressed.”
“Too late.” The door was opening as Livia was speaking and a grinning Moriko strode in. “Hey, kids.Nicecock,” she added admiringly to Nox, who was trying to cover himself with his jeans and laughing. Livia burst into giggles as she covered his groin with her body. Moriko’s high laughter rang out as she disappeared into her room. “Let me know when you’re somewhat decent and I’llcomeout.”
A few minutes passed and Moriko stuck her head out of the door. She looked disappointed. “Oh. You’re dressed. Give a girl a treat, why don’t you?” She winked at Nox who grinned back. Livia shookherhead.
“You are terrible. Look, we’re going to order pizza and beer—wantin?”
“Hell, yes, if I’m not disturbinganything.”
“Notatall.”
When the pizza arrived, Livia passed out cold beers and they sat out on the tiny balcony that looked over the city. “If you squint,” Moriko told Nox, “you can see Bourbon Streetfromhere.”
Nox looked in the direction of the famous street. “Really?”
“Squint harder…harder….now close your eyes and imagine Bourbon Street.” Moriko cackled at her joke and Livia giggled, throwing a piece of pizza crust at herfriend.
“Don’ttease.”
“No, no,” Nox said, grinning, “that’s what best friends are supposed to do to the paramour. It isthelaw.”
Moriko nodded wisely. “You are wise, YoungPadawan.”
