I pause. “No. I’m not done with the doctor yet,” I say as I close the lid.
17
LEONORE
When you tell someone your deepest darkest secrets, part of you expects that person would also share their deepest darkest secrets with you if they trusted you enough. That’s the type of relationship that Nessa and I have … except, I know she is hiding something from me.
Granted, I’m certain we both have secrets from our pasts that neither of us are willing to discuss. But this life we have now… Up until this point we’ve always been open about it. So I know when she’s acting strange and hiding something from me.
Especially with the way she reacted when I reached for her ringing phone when she woke up later that day. She practically snatched it from my hand so fast that I was shocked. What is she hiding from me that she thinks she can’t share with me?
I don’t press her on it, though. I know when she needs my help or wants to divulge, she’ll let me know.
“Can you watch Larissa tonight?” she asks as I walk into the lounge room.
“You have work?” I ask her, confused, certain that it was her night off. She looks at me, and I can tell she has tried to cover the bruising with concealer.
“No, I have to do a few errands, and I can’t take her with me.”
My eyebrows dip in confusion. It’s one of the few nights I have rostered off, although I often go into work. However, in the past week, the numbers have lessened. I haven’t looked into Silas’s lack of visits, but I know he’s certainly not busy killing Nero’s crew one by one. Or maybe he is and just can’t be fucked doing the respectful thing and at least returning the bodies to their families. Who knows. Not me, and I certainly don’t care.
“Yes, of course.” Anytime with Larissa is totally worth it.
She stands and leans down, kissing her daughter’s head.
“I’ll be back later, okay?” Larissa nods, and I’m surprised by how quickly Nessa walks toward the door, looking down at her phone. Oh, so she meant now? I have a feeling it has something to do with the calls and texts she’s been receiving. A booty call, maybe?
“Do you need my car?” Her car is still at the club.
She pauses. And something feels off. “No, I called an Uber.”
Then she disappears out the front door, and I can’t shake the unease crawling up my spine. Something is different with her, and I hate that she is hiding it from me. Though I can understand. I’m not exactly forthcoming about Silas. Not that anything is happening between Silas and me. Though I know it’s the juicy type of detail she likes to gossip about.
A few hours go by before Nessa finally returns. Larissa is asleep in my lap as the credits roll on the kid’s movie we were watching. She looks fresh when she walks in, her hair is done, and her makeup looks like she’s ready for a photoshoot.
Definitely a booty call.But who…
“You look good,” I say to her.
“Thanks, and thanks again for watching Larissa.” She walks over and picks up Larissa, who stirs in her arms but goes back to sleep.
While Nessa tucks her daughter into bed, I clean up the popcorn littered all over the floor and take the bowl and glasses to the kitchen. It’s been a nice evening with my goddaughter. But an uneasiness hasn’t left me all night.
“Did you get your stuff sorted?” I ask her.
“Stuff?”
“Yes, where you went…”
“I had a date.”
She smiles, and I can’t help but notice the sparkle in her eyes. Called it.
“Ohhh…”
Her smile broadens, and the unease from earlier stirs in my gut. Nessa has always been a little guy crazy. She loses her heart quicker than anyone I know, and when it falls apart, she falls apart. I have picked up the pieces more times than I care to remember. And I’ll pick them up a thousand times more if she needs me to.
So I have come to accept the fact that no matter what I say about a man she is seeing, it won’t help.
