Page 71 of Midnight Valentine
Too shocked to continue standing, I plop down onto the lid of the toilet and stare at the floor. I’m blinded by images of Theo’s tortured expression when he looked at me on Friday night, at his expression of fury when he looked at Craig.
“What else did you hear?”
Her voice turns businesslike. “Nope, you’ve gotta pay to play, babes. Otherwise mum’s the word.”
My sigh is aggravated but also resigned. “Fine. What time are you picking me up?”
“In an hour. And don’t wear jeans and a T-shirt.”
“Why not? Since when does God give a shit about fashion?”
“It’s a house of worship, sweetie, not a dorm party. Show the Lord some respect.”
I mutter darkly, “Tell him to earn it,” and hang up.
19
By the time Suzanne rings the bell, I’ve paced the floor so much, I’ve almost worn a groove into the wood. When I open the door, she gives me a quick once-over, nodding in approval at my conservative black slacks and ivory cashmere sweater.
“You look great.”
“I look like someone’s secretary.”
“No one’s secretary looks like you, bombshell. Stop complaining and get your ass in the car. We’re going to be late.”
I lock the front door, and then we’re off. I make it all of two minutes into the drive before I start pestering her for more information. “So? What else did you hear about Theo?”
She looks sideways at me. I can tell she’s trying not to smile. “Why’re you suddenly so interested in Theo Valentine anyway?”
“I wouldn’t call it sudden.” When she purses her lips, I add, “Let’s just say he’s been growing on me.”
“Huh. Like a mold.”
“Suzanne, please!”
“No, seriously, I find this interesting. You went from thinking he was an asshole to begging me with big Bambi eyes for more deets about why he left. Obviously, there’s something going on.”
Her pause is filled with expectation. I realize I’m not getting any more out of her until she gets what she wants from me. I slump down in the seat and stare out the window. “Fine. Yes, there’s something going on.”
She hollers, “What?” so loudly, I jump.
“Jesus, Suzanne, shout a little, why don’t you!”
Cackling, she pounds her fist on the steering wheel. “I knew it! I knew someone would eventually get to him! I want all the details. Are you sleeping with him? Are you in love with him? Wait, no, answer me this first—is he hung?”
She turns to me with an eager expression, her eyes alight. I want to punch her in the face.
“Number one, you’re demented. Number two, we aren’t sleeping together. Number three, no one’s in love with anyone. We’re just…kind of…circling each other warily.”
She crinkles her face into an expression that would be hilarious if I weren’t so irritated.
“Oh, how romantic. ‘Circling each other warily.’ You make it sound like you’re a pair of feral cats!”
“I don’t know what we are. We’re nothing.” I close my eyes, remembering Theo out on the beach in the darkness, moving one step closer to me each time I called his name. “But there’s something there. A connection. I can’t explain it, Suzanne. All I know is that we’re drawn to each other, and that drives him crazy. Every time I’m near him, it’s like he’s going to jump out of his skin.”
She says smugly, “I told you he had the hots for you.”
“I wish it were that simple.” Then I tell her the whole story, start to finish, beginning with the first time I saw Theo at Cal’s Diner all the way up to the encounter at the restaurant with Craig.
