“He’s looking for me?”
“I doubt that.”
This time my eyebrow pops in question.
“Darryl went with him.”
Laughter bursts out of my chest so fast I rock back on the stool. It takes a moment to get myself under control. When I do, I find Devon grinning at me.
“Feel better?” he asks.
“Hell yes.” And I do. Because now the blinders are off, I see things I didn’t see before. Like the way Peter and Darryl are always together. They share an apartment, work at the same dealership. “Oh, we are going to tarnish that man’s reputation in a way he never saw coming.”
“How?”
“Well, for one, he’s obviously deep in the closet.”
“You’re going to out him?”
“No!” I shake my head rapidly. “That would be especially cruel and isn’t for me to reveal, but I’m certainly going to use it to my advantage.”
“How so?” Devon asks as he replaces my lukewarm G&T with a fresh cold one.
“I’ll let everyone know I found out he’s been having an affair and is in love with someone else. I don’t have to say who. Unless he gets difficult. But I’ll remind him that I have evidence he would not want anyone getting their hands on.”
“What evidence?” The way he leans on the bar as though I’m about to reveal a state secret makes me smile.
“I had my phone with me when I overheard them.” His eyebrows shoot up his forehead and I nod. “Yes. I recorded them.”
“You videoed them getting it on?”
“Not footage. Sound. And there is no doubt who is talking because they stupidly call each other by name.”
Devon shakes his head. “I don’t understand why he would ask you out on a date, never mind to marry him if he’s gay.”
“Once I get my phone back you can listen and make your own conclusions. I don’t want to lead you in the direction I’ve gone.”
“Okay. Wait.” He straightens up. “Where’s your phone?”
“With all my things at the church. I only took some cash so I could get here and then find a hotel for the night.”
“Oh, no. No hotel for you. You can stay at my place. No one will look for you there and you can stay as long as you need to.”
“I can’t do that.”
“You only have cash? No ID?”
I nod. “Just cash.”
“Then it’s unlikely you’ll be able to get a room without ID.”
Dammit. He’s right. Why didn’t I think of that? Why didn’t I at least bring my purse?
Of course I know why. All I could think about in those moments after hearing Peter and Darryl was getting away and making it hard for anyone to find me.
Hiding out at Devon’s place would be perfect. Except I hate to impose. He’s not even really a friend. A friend of a friend, yes, maybe, hell, I don’t know how to describe our connection. But I can’t deny his offer is tempting. So tempting.
“I promised the girls I’d meet them tomorrow.”
