“I already told you. You’re playing with fire.” He sets me down, then picks me up again so I’m straddling him from the front and we’re face to face.
“That was my plan.” I tug him closer and kiss him.
When he drives me back to his house, we’re both grinning, my hair’s mussier, and I’m not regretting that kiss even one bit.
25
HONEY
When I getto John’s house, I spend some time with Monster first, hugging him and rubbing his belly. Then, Monster and I sit out on the front porch, settle in, and I call Cat’s real cell number.
She answers right away.
“Do you have time to talk now?” I ask.
“Hours. But you sound weird. Have you been drinking?”
“Cat, of course not. I’m pregnant. I’m tired. And I’m happy.”
She’s quiet for a moment before sobbing. “Sorry, Honeycake, but I don’t remember the last time you told me you were happy.”
“I don’t either.”
I tell her everything that’s happened, without downplaying anything, beginning the day I stepped foot in Heaven and Ned told me that the cottage was already paid for and I could have it for as long as I wanted. When I finally get to the part about Trey dropping John’s battery charge around midnight last night, I’m wondering if she’s asleep because she’s been so quiet.
“Are you there?”
“Yes. I’m just in shock. It’s a lot.”
I laugh. “It’s a lot.”
“I’m glad Trey dropped the suit. But it doesn’t feel like enough. I hate that he’s even still alive… and that he’s still a threat to you and so many other women.”
“I know. I’m still deciding on whether I want to put the video out there for everyone to see. The whole thing. It would blow up. And it could ruin him. But everyone will know it’s me, and I’ll be out there again in the public eye.” I take a deep breath and tell her something I haven’t said aloud yet, not even to John. “But Cat, I want to lay low right now. People would start taking photos of me, and… Trey will see that I’m pregnant. And he would put two and two together and who knows what he’d try to do.”
The line is quiet. Finally, Cat says, “I understand. I want you and my nephew to have peace and safety.”
“Am I being selfish, not telling the whole world how awful Trey is and not warning every woman in the universe to stay far away from him?”
“You’re not awful, Honeycake.”
“If I decide to put the video out there, I’ve got a great group of friends who will help me. I’ll give you advance notice, and maybe you could fly down for support?”
“Of course. But do I have to wait? Because I want to visit yesterday. When can I get on a plane to see you?” She pauses. “You’re not going to come live with me, are you? So, I want to meet John.”
“He’s nice, Cat.”
“I have to see.”
“Remember how I told you I first thought when I was with Trey women were shooting me with dagger eyes because they were envious? And then I realized that they were shooting Trey with dagger eyes, not me, because his reputation was catching up with him?”
“Yeah, I remember thinking that it’s too bad they weren’t real daggers.”
“I can see, by the way everyone responds to John and how he interacts with them, that he’s genuine. It’s not a show. These are people who’ve known him for years and years. He’s genuinely sweet, patient, and considerate.”
“Is he easy on the eyes?”
I laugh. “I could look at him all day.”
