Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Mara
“Did you guys hook up?” Suki’s expression is half-shocked, half-thrilled.
“God, no. I told you it was a prank.”
She practically flew into the house after Carter pulled their giant SUV into the garage. The two of us are alone in a main-floor half bathroom, her carry-on bag still clutched in one hand.
“I don’t understand. Why were you even here?”
“Well, it’s kind of a long story, but you asked me to check on your plants.”
She nods. “Yeah, but that probably took like five minutes.”
“My Darling!” Young Hallie’s exuberant greeting for her pet makes me smile.
“Come here, Noods. Aw, you’re a good boy.” That’s Charlotte, the middle girl.
“The trip was good?” I ask Suki.
She lowers her brow in a look of confusion. “It was great, but I want to know how you ended up cozied up to Leo and not only were neither of you bleeding from a knife wound, you were both smiling.”
That interaction a couple nights ago was pretty much the end of the camaraderie between me and Leo. I was so exhausted after dinner that I crashed in the guest room until I had to get up for work the next morning.
Leo slept in the living room with the animals, and I wasn’t much help that night. Darling wasn’t sick anymore, though, so it was easier than the night before.
I didn’t need to come back over once things were smoother, but Leo texted me earlier today and asked if I could take over for him for the final two hours before Carter and Suki got back. That’s why I’m here now.
“Darling is fine.” Once she finds out their pet pig was sick, Suki’s going to freak out, so I open with the good news. “But he did eat part of your aloe plant and it made him sick.”
“What?” Her brow crinkles with worry.
“He’s fine. Leo asked the team doctor to come look at him. But there was one long night of diarrhea and vomiting, plus a puppy and a new dog to take care of, so I stayed to help.”
She balks at that. “You stayed here? All night? With Leo?”
“It was a literal shit show. We were constantly cleaning up shit and puke and trying to keep Noodle from eating the furniture.”
Her expression turns shrewd and assessing. “But you still had time to pose with him like a happy couple for a selfie?”
“Well, that was the next night.”
“I knew it.” She crosses her arms, her smile victorious. “All this time I’ve been telling you that you don’t hate him at all. And you deny it like Shaggy denies banging on the bathroom floor.”
My jaw drops and my eyes bulge. “What the fuck? I come over to help with your pets and you compare me to a has-been reggae singer?”
“You slept with him.”
I let out a short snort of derision. “I absolutely did not and would never . It was a joke. You know me better than anyone. Look at my face right now.”
She locks her eyes onto mine and stares for a few seconds, silent. “Okay, so no sex, but your feelings about him have changed.”
I shake my head adamantly. “Not really. He brought me tacos and wine, so maybe I hate him at like a nine point five instead of a ten.”
She folds her hands and puts them beneath her chin, grinning. “You like him.”
I roll my eyes. “I tolerated him because I was worried about Darling.”
“Suki?” Carter calls out from the living room.
“I’m in the bathroom with Mara.”
There’s a pause before he says. “I don’t even want to know.”
I reach for the doorknob, but she bats my hand away. “You weren’t just smiling with your mouth in that picture. Everything was smiling. Your eyes—your whole face, really. Even your boobs looked perkier than usual.”
“What?” I gape at her. “Look, I know you love Leo and all, but he and I are never, ever getting together. Like ever.”
“So you’re saying I should wait to try to get pregnant so we can have babies at the same time. Maybe yours will have Leo’s green eyes.”
This time, my laughter is genuinely amused. “You’re trying to bait me, and I’m not falling for it. I have to get back to work.”
When I walk out of the bathroom, Hallie is snuggling with Darling on the couch.
“Where’s Uncle Leo?” she asks. “I wanted to see Birdie.”
“They had to leave early, but I’m sure they’ll be over soon.” I walk over to her. “How was Fiji?”
“Fun! We stayed in a hut with water underneath it. I went swimming every day.”
“Every day?”
She grins, the gap from a missing tooth making me want to smoosh her in a hug. “And I ate pineapple cake and went to a waterfall.”
“Sounds like a blast. Did you miss Darling?”
“Yeah.” She climbs on top of him and wraps her arms around him. “Was he sad?”
“Nah. He did great, but I know he’s happy you’re home.”
Carter walks into the room. “Hey, where’s Leo?”
“He had an appointment to get to, I don’t know what it was. And I have to get back to work, so ... Noodle went out to potty about fifteen minutes ago. The plants are all watered. Except for the aloe, which is in the laundry room—so Darling can’t get to it.”
“Hey, thanks for your help,” Suki says.
“No problem.”
I walk into the kitchen and grab my bag. Suki follows me and gives me a quick hug.
“My boss won’t let me work late anymore, so I’m reading files at home,” I tell her. “I’m buried, so I don’t know if I’ll see you until the next trivia night.”
“Okay. Is this just a busy time at work? Is it going to get better?”
“It probably won’t get better, but it’s okay. I’m good.”
She gives me a pointed look. “You always say that, even when you’re not. And then the stress just builds and builds until you explode.”
“That’s how I’m made.” I wave at her on my way out the door. “Tell Olivia and Charlotte I said hi.”
“I will. Call me later if you want to talk about Leo some more.”
I call out to her over my shoulder. “I don’t!”