Page 90 of Take My Love
“Are you sayin’ she’s mad we had Jackson and Jamie here?”
She licks her lips, adjusting her top that rose up. “I think so. I knew she didn’t like company but Jackson and I didn’t even touch, so?—”
“You didn’t?”
“No…” She furrows her brows. “I explained how I didn’t see anythin’ romantic happenin’ between us and he agreed. So to burn time, we baked muffins and he talked about his ex. I wasn’t sure how things were goin’ with you and Jamie, so I wanted to give y’all privacy.”
“Oh…” I scrub my palm through my hair although it’s already a mess.
“Did you and Jamie?—”
“No, I told her the same thing before walkin’ her out.”
“Really? I thought y’all hit it off.”
“As friends but nothin’ more.”
She spins before I can see her facial reaction.
“Hm…I dunno why she’s so mad then.” She starts closing the cabinets and drawers while I add pressure to my nose. It’s sore as fuck, but I don’t think it’s broken.
This is going to sound dumb but I say it anyway. “Maybe she doesn’t like the idea of us datin’ other people.”
“It’s possible…especially after last night.”
“Wait, you think she saw us?”
She shrugs. “Who knows? Marjorie will be quiet for weeks at a time and then will randomly let me know she’s here.”
This is getting too creepy.
“I’m startin’ to think it’s time to burn this place down.”
“What? No!” She playfully pushes my shoulder before remembering I’m already injured. “Shit, sorry. How is it?”
I pull the washcloth back to show her. “Hurts like a son of a bitch, but I’ll live.”
“I’ll get you an ice pack so it doesn’t swell.”
She digs into the freezer and hands one to me, but then her face scrunches.
“The thermostat…it’s freezin’ in here. She lowered it again.”
Oh good, it’s not just me.
“Oh shit?—”
Without another word, she walks away and I’m too curious not to follow.
“Oh my God!” she screams when she goes into her walk-in closet. “Teddy!”
“What is it?” I go inside and see his empty cage.
“The cage’s open and he’s missin’!”
“What?” I scan the floor, moving my feet around to make sure he doesn’t run over them.
“She’s done this before and I didn’t find him for three days.” She opens each dresser drawer calling his name.
