“Let me walk you to your car.”
Graham waved to theMario Kartgroup as we passed through the atrium. In the parking lot, he stopped in front of a sleek white Range Rover.
“I’m so glad you came by today. Thanks again.” I smiled and gave him a stiff hug.
“Me too,” he said, leaning close to my ear. “I hope we do it again soon. And I’ll set up the meeting with the giving team.”
We pulled apart, and he grasped my shoulders, running his palms down my arms to squeeze my hands before getting into his car and driving away.
I turned toward the Center.
Deck stood at the entrance. Based on his expression, he’d seen it all—the smiles, the hug, and Graham running his hands down my arms.
Expression tightening, he went back into the building.
Dammit.
I released a groan into the deserted parking lot, raising my eyes heavenward. Sometimes Deck made me crazy because I wanted him so much. Other times, he made me crazy by being a big, insecure self-saboteur.
I shook my head.
It wasn’t going to go down like that. Not this time.
This time, we were putting those demons to rest.
Chapter twenty-nine
Deck
I’d barely answered the knock on my front door before Cori barreled through. I couldn’t believe she’d shown up at my house.
“Cool trick avoiding me the rest of the afternoon at the Center, Deck. But we need to talk.”
The TV in the living room blared with some movie I’d put on when I got home. I’d thought about calling Juan to see if he wanted to meet up at Tubby’s but decided I’d be shit company. Better to wallow in my own misery than inflict it on my best friend.
What I hadn’t expected was for Cori to show up unannounced, no warning text or anything.
“Is everything okay?” I asked. “Johnny?”
She stopped short in the entryway, removing her shoes and throwing the delicate flats into the box with my dirty boots. Bastardo immediately jumped in and curled into a ball on top of them. “Johnny’s fine, I’m sure. Probably chilling on my couchthe way he has been for weeks. I wouldn’t know since I came straight from the Center. I would have come sooner if I hadn’t agreed to an evening Zoom call with one of the board members. And you know full well why I’m here.”
Flouncing into my living room, she turned around with her hands on her hips. She seemed mad but also…energized.
“Actually, I’m not sure why.”
“No, Deck. Nuh-uh. We’re not playing the game that way anymore. I’m here because you got all weird when you saw me withmy friendGraham.”
I sighed. “You can do whatever you want, Cori.”
“Pfft. Come off it.” She paced back and forth in front of my makeshift coffee table before releasing a sound that was half laughter and half annoyance. “Stop being infuriating. You know it bothered you to see me with him. Just like it bothered you to find out about Marcus.” She lifted her forehead as though daring me to disagree. “Even if it’s not rational. You don’t believe for one minute that my visit with Graham was anything more than exactly what it was—two friends sharing a conversation. It just suits your purposes to pretend it could be more. Something that entitles you to be all…all…” She flicked her fingers back and forth. “Huffy.”
I scoffed. “That doesn’t even make sense.”
She stopped pacing and stepped nearer to me. “Not everything makes sense, Deck. Especially the scary stuff.”
I crossed my arms. “Am I scared in this scenario?”
“Terrified,” she stated boldly, inching closer. “And we both know why.”
