Page 56 of Rooster

“Yeah, I was just checking.” Even though I still had my doubts, I let it go. I stepped over to her and kissed her as I said, “I’m gonna go grab a drink from the fridge.”

“Ronin?”

“Yeah?”

She gave me a strange look, then shook her head. “Oh, nothing.”

I opened the door, and as soon as I stepped into the hall, I spotted Nathan standing in his doorway. His head was down, and his eyes were narrowed like a bull ready to charge, but he didn’t move. He just stood there, giving me the eye, and I knew then that we’d been louder than I thought.

Damn.

This was turning out to be a bad deal all around.

And I had a feeling that things were going to get worse before they got better.

Maggie

“You were right.”

“Right about what?”

“We weren’t quiet.” Ronin walked over and placed a glass of water on the bedside table. “I’m pretty sure Nathan heard us.”

“Oh God, nooo,” I groaned. “What did he say?”

“Nothing. He just gave me a look.”

“A look? That’s it?” I was grasping for any shred of hope when I said, “Maybe he didn’t hear anything. Maybe it was something else.”

“He knows, babe. You’re just gonna have to trust me on that.”

“Damn. Did you say anything to him?”

“I was going to, but he closed the door before I got the chance. I could go try again.”

“No, I’ll do it.”

I started for the door but stopped when Ronin said, “Hold up. You might wanna give him a little while before you go in there.”

“You think?”

“If I was in his shoes, I’d need a minute.”

“How long is a minute? Later tonight? Tomorrow?”

“A month or two should do the trick,” he teased.

“Ronin!”

“Give him a day or so when it’s just you and him. And hey, I might be wrong. He might not have heard anything. He could be pissed that I ate his fortune cookie.”

“You ate his fortune cookie?”

“I was still hungry.”

“But the fortune cookie is the best part!”

“Yeah, I know. That’s why I ate it,” he teased. “I mean, if you don’t want me eating his cookies, then you best be gettin’ me some more snacks around here and get some good ones. None of those off-brand Twinkies like you got Samantha. Poor kid. Don’t know how she could choke those down.”

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