Once the waitress leaves, I take a sip of my water as Mia leans forward and whisper-yells, “The fuck? Why would someone do that?”
“I honestly don’t know. James is looking into it, but he thinks it’s to do with my dad.” I shrug. I still haven’t fully processed everything; my mind whirs with all of the possible outcomes, but nothing screams at me.
She places a hand on my arm as she softly says, “Raven. I’ve seen the relationship between you and your dad; this wasn’t him. I just know it.”
“I don’t know what to believe.” I wipe a stray tear from my eye. “James insisted that I need to stay with him and have security for my protection.”
“Is that why you walked in with that major hottie?” Mia gestures toward Leo. “I wondered who he was. I’ve never seen you with anyone other than James, so I thought maybe you might have finally moved on.”
I scoff. “Fat chance of that.”
“Yeah, I thought the same thing when I said it,” she laughs.
We settle into the familiar routine of banter. I don’t see nearly enough of Mia, but I know that if I ever need her, she’s there, no questions asked.
“How’s the dating life going?” I ask as we’re finishing our dessert—I can never say no to Nova’s chocolate brownies.
“Don’t ask. I’m giving up on men. They either only want sex or they put you firmly in the friend zone. I’m seriously considering trying out women.”
That causes me to choke on the brownie piece I’d just shoved in my mouth. “Mia,” I start, “you love dick too much to give it up.”
“True,” she says wistfully. “Prince Charming is out there somewhere for me.”
“He is,” I agree. “I’m going to the ladies, I’ll be back.”
Standing up, I walk to the bathroom. Mia and I have never been one to go together; she usually uses that time to catch up on social media or to message the random guy she found on a dating site.
After doing what I need to do, I go to wash my hands when the door opens. I don’t glance up, I’ve always found it weird how girls just randomly talk to each other in the bathroom but don’t anywhere else.
While I’m checking if my hair is still in place, a nasally voice says, “Wow, we could be twins.”
I look in the mirror and see a beautiful woman. Other than the red hair, we couldn’t be more different—she’s stick thin, I have curves. Her face is caked in makeup; mine is not. I give her a polite smile and go to dry my hands.
“I mean, I’m much better looking than you are, but you make it work for you,” she mocks condescendingly as she looks me up and down.
I feel like I’m back in school when one of the popular girls starts to compliment you, only to slap you around the face with a nasty after comment. I don’t reply. I don’t do confrontation; I learned long ago it doesn’t get me anywhere.
Drying my hands, I walk out, not giving her a backward glance.
Breathe. In, out. In, out.
Rushing through the busy restaurant, I feel flustered by the encounter. I reach Mia’s side, clutching onto her as she pays the bills. Not unused to my freakouts, Mia wraps an arm around me, asking, “Everything okay?”
“Absolutely fine,” I reply. “You ready to go? I’ve got an early start.”
Mia knows I’m full of shit, but she nods. We walk out together arm in arm, Leo following close behind. I hug her, promising to call tomorrow.
Once I’m safely seated in the passenger seat, I finally relax enough to wonder who the hell that woman was and what I ever did to her.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
JAMES
I’m sitting in my home office when I hear the front door open, followed by, “Honey, I’m home.”
A smile tugs at my lips. I shouldn’t welcome the warmth that spreads through my chest knowing she’s home, but I do anyway. Pushing out of my chair, I go to greet her.
I find Raven in the kitchen rifling through the fridge, humming to herself. Her ass is in the air as she continues looking for whatever it is she’s looking for, and my dick goes hard. Propping myself against the doorframe, I cross my arms and watch her.
