Page 11 of Forever Wild
“Uh-huh.” I point to her tits. This time I don’t even bother not looking. “Did you walk around Declan’s house in that?”
She looks down at herself.
“It was underneath my other clothes,” she says slowly like she’s trying to understand.
“Whyare you here?”
Her face takes on a slight blush. “You have that great pool and you won’t even know I’m here.”
Impossible.
“I don’t want your pity lunch or your bribery cookies.” I push the container toward her.
“Oh my god.” She rolls her eyes, and her lips curve up into a smile. “Stop being so dramatic.”
“I told you, I don’t need anyone’s help.”
“Really?” she asks. Both hands go to her hips. It’d be less distracting if she weren’t mostly naked. “Because you look like shit and this place is a mess.”
I motion with both hands toward my leg.
“I know. I know.” She throws up her hands. And she says I’m the dramatic one? She lets out a long breath. “I don’t mean to keep yelling at you, but god, you’re frustrating.”
“Right back at ya.” I take the cookies back and retrieve two from the container. I deserve them for this conversation alone.
Her voice is softer when she speaks this time. “You need help whether you like it or not. And I need access to the best pool in the city.”
I huff a short laugh.
“It’s just lunch. For all the things you’ve done for me over the years, I’d say we are manymanylunches away from us being even.”
I bite into a cookie as I think about it. I don’t want her here, but she’s stubborn and hard-headed, and this was the best lunch I’ve had in weeks.
“Fine. You can use the pool.”
She squeals and jumps around, reminding me that she’s ten years younger than me. It doesn’t help that I feel about fifty years old right now.
“Just for today,” I add.
Her head nods quickly and she smiles at me happily before stuffing another forkful of salad into her mouth.
“No reporting back to Bridget or anyone else,” I say pointedly.
She continues to nod away. Why do I feel like I’m going to regret this?
“And I’m taking the rest of these.” I grab the cookies, stand, and start my slow hobble to the couch.
5
NOT DEAD
EVERLY
The sun is shining bright and high in the sky, and my smile widens as I turn my face up toward it. We don’t get a lot of hot weather in Minnesota, but there’s just something about lying by the pool, occasionally dipping my toes in the water or taking a swim, that makes summertime feel right.
For all Jack’s complaining and acting like he was annoyed that I’m here, he turned on the outdoor speakers for me and pop music plays just loud enough that it feels like the soundtrack to this perfect day.
All the outdoor furniture is covered in a fine layer of dust, indicating he hasn’t been out here in a while. The pool is clean, though. I guess he didn’t run off the pool boy like all the rest of his staff.
