“Okay, so find out why he’s here, and you can go from there.”
“I, uh… I may have told him that I have a date tonight.”
“What?Why?”
“He showed up yesterday and acted like it was a given that I would jump into his arms as soon as I saw him.Like I was sitting around and waiting for him to decide to pay attention to me.”
“Okay, yeah, I can see how that would have pissed you off.If Fisher did that shit, I would have?—”
“Lied and said you were seeing someone else?”
Vera smiles.“Something like that.”
I snort, taking a gulp of my coffee.“I’m just all over the place.I mean, I have been waiting for him to notice me.I’m pissed at him for acting like that, but I’m also mad at myself for it being true.I feel… I don’t know, pitiful?Pathetic?One of the p words.”
“You’re not any of those.The fact that you’ve always known he was the one for you is romantic.Maybe he’s been waiting for you too.”
“If I hadn’t written to him, we never would have met,” I whisper, blinking back tears.
“Oh, Suri.”Vera stands, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug.“It’s obvious that you’re carrying around a lot of big emotions about all of this.”
“I hate it.”
“I know,” she coos.“Why don’t you take tonight to recenter yourself?”
“Because I have a fake date to get ready for.If I can’t find someone, he’ll know I lied, and it will be even worse.”
“So stay late and work.You can tell him you had to reschedule,” she suggests.
I mull over her words.“That could work,” I agree, feeling relieved.“But what happens if I can’t find anyone?Or if I can’t figure out what to do about Devon?”
“You will.It will all work out,” Vera promises.
I feel better after talking it out.I know I should take the time to write everything down.I’m better when I do that because it helps me to think things through.
“Thanks, Vera.”
“What are friends for?”she asks with a grin.“Now, come on.We’ve got some wolves to take care of.”
I smile as I stand and follow her out the door.
4
Devon
I finishedmy shift two hours ago, and I’ve been parked outside Suri’s apartment ever since.She still hasn’t come home, and I’m starting to panic.Did something happen to her?Did she go straight to the restaurant from work?Is she out with some other man right now?
My hands strangle the steering wheel as I debate whether to leave my post and swing by Palmer’s Steakhouse to look for her or stay here and wait.It’s getting late, close to seven-thirty already.I curse under my breath as I turn the key in the ignition.
I don’t have a plan for how to break up her date.Do I say that there’s been a threat and get the whole place shut down for a bit?Would anyone believe that in this small town?I guess I could always grab the guy, knock him out, and carry Suri out of there.
I’m about to shift into drive when headlights appear behind me, and the vehicle parks in the spot Suri vacated this morning.
I shut off the engine, relieved as I climb out of my police cruiser.At least she’s not hurt.Plus, she’s alone.
“How was your date?”I ask, trying to sound calm and in control.I’m pretty sure I fail terribly.I sound like an angry ogre.
“I had to reschedule since I had to work late,” she says, holding her things to her chest as she locks her car and turns to face me.“What are you doing here?”
