“No,” I amend hastily. “It’s a definite. I very much enjoy having sex with you.”
“Great. I thought so. But it’s always good to check.” He downs some coffee. “I would prefer if we were exclusive. You good with that?”
I nod.
“Now even with me trying to slow down, my work hours can be kind of hectic. One of the pitfalls of the job, unfortunately,” he says. “How often ideally do you see us getting together? And by getting together I don’t mean just fucking. Though fucking can of course be included. But talking to you, hanging out with you, that’s important to me too, okay?”
“Wow.” I stare at him in wonder. “You’re so emotionally mature and relationship literate.”
He just waits.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“This is new. We can figure out what works for us as we go. I know you’re used to having space. And what with us living next to each other…I just want to be careful not to wear out my welcome.” He tips his chin at me. “What are you thinking?”
“Honestly?”
“Of course.”
“That I have years of celibacy to make up for and it’s highly unlikely you’re going to wear out your welcome anytime this century.”
“But you’ll tell me if you feel that changing, right?” he asks.
“I do. I mean…I will. Yes.”
“Good.”
He’s so pretty when he smiles. A sight guaranteed to make my brain go to a galaxy far, far away. How he woke up my libido and shook up my life when he moved into the neighborhood. My world has changed more in the last month than it has in the last decade.
I am about to pour my heart out and tell him all of this when my canine house guest starts barking. Auggie races in through the open back door, making a mad dash for the front of the house. Noah takes the frying pan off the heat and follows with a frown.
My cell is in the next room on the dining room table. Just another sign of my lust-addled mind. Normally I would never have my connection to the security cameras out of reach. I jump down off the counter. This feels bad—whatever it is. And I seem to have developed a sixth sense for this shit over the years.
Auggie is busy growling when Noah swears and says, “Baby, there’s a news crew filming on your front lawn.”
CHAPTER TEN
The phone is ringing. It’s an unknown number and the timing sure is uncanny. I wouldn’t normally answer. Just let it go to voicemail. But whatever is happening out front has got me distracted for the second time today. There are texts from Muriel on screen too. Asking me to call her urgently. What the heck is going on?
I answer the call. “Hello?”
“Will you accept charges for a call from Vermont Regional Correctional Facility?” asks a robotic voice.
He’s never called me before. Not once in all these years. Those creepy letters arrive now and then, but they’ve been his sole means of communication. But he is bound to be the cause of whatever is going on right now. It’s a definite. And the way fury fills me from head to toe at the thought. I don’t even hesitate in my reply. “Yes.”
“Your call will be subject to recording and monitoring.”
Noah is busy drawing the curtains on the front windows and giving pats to Auggie. Trying to calm him down. The good boy is not happy about people hanging outside his home talking nonsense. Which is a sentiment we strongly share.
“Sidney,” says the horribly familiar voice. And he sounds so fucking happy with himself. Just so very pleased. “How nice to talk to you. What’s it been…ten years?”
“About that.” Hearing my ex’s low amused laugh sends a shiver down my spine. It makes my skin crawl. I hate him with everything in me and I don’t care if it’s healthy or not. “Ryan, how did you get this number?”
Noah’s head snaps around at my mention of the name and there’s a sudden wariness in his eyes. All of which is absolutelyvalid. I am not sure I should be giving my ex the time of day. It is in fact most likely an awful fucking idea. The worst I’ve had in a long time.
“What have you done?” I ask.
“Me? How could I have done anything? You’re forgetting I’m still stuck in jail.”
