Page 151 of Lost Trust

Marina’s eyes meet mine, and her lips twitch like she’s fighting a smile.

Ginger looks between us and clears her throat. “Well, I think I’m going to head to bed myself.”

“It’s only eight thirty,” Marina says.

“I know.”

Ginger starts toward the hallway, then doubles back.

She leans down beside Marina and whispers in her ear, but not low enough that I can’t hear. “I’m going to have my headphones on, listening to my sleep app, if you decide he deserves that cookie.”

“Mom!”

Ginger laughs as she disappears down the hallway.

Marina covers her face with both hands. “Oh my God. I can’t with her.”

I laugh. “She’s something else.”

“She’s insane.” Marina lowers her hands and gives me a look. “She sure likes you.”

I grin. “Of course she does. What’s not to like?” I waggle my eyebrows at her.

She shakes her head, trying not to smile, and reaches for her fork.

I watch her take the first bite. “Good?”

She nods, chewing. “Pretty good.” She takes another bite. Then she looks at me. “Why’d you do all this?”

“Because you had a long day.”

Her expression changes.

Something vulnerable flickers across her face before she looks down at her plate.

I push away from the counter. “Eat, Rina.”

Marina

I drag the last bite of roll through the gravy and pop it into my mouth before standing to take my plate to the sink.

“You want a beer?” I call to Royce, who has made his way to the couch and is fumbling with the TV remote.

“Sure.”

I grab two bottles from the refrigerator and crack them open, handing one to him. I settle onto the couch beside him and curl into his side.

He stops on a ball game and turns the volume down. We sit in silence as the game flickers across the screen.

The quiet feels good.

I take a sip and stare at the bottle in my hand.

“I got a call from Blaze tonight,” I say. “That’s why I was running later than planned.”

Royce’s head turns toward me. “What did he want?”

“He found out the condo was being sold and wanted to give me shit about it.”