Page 41 of Gold Rush

Rory’s hand drops from my arm the second his back is turned, spinning to face the rows of bread again. She grabs a loaf, glances at the label, then tosses it on top of the buns.

I pick it up, peering at the ingredients. “This brand is full of crap. Enriched flour, plus emulsifiers and dough conditioners.”

Rory watches me return the loaf to the shelf and select a different sourdough. “You know a lot about bread.”

“I like bread.”

“Hmm. Do you think I should put Knox on the list?”

I frown. “What list?”

“The list of guys to date after we fake break up.”

My head jerks right, and I study her more closely. “You have a list of guys to date after we fake break up?”

“I don’t have a list; I’m making a list. That was part of your pitch, remember? Matchmaking services, utilizing your extensive knowledge of male behavior and many hours spent partying with every eligible bachelor in New York City?”

My eyes narrow. She sounds serious, but I’m pretty sure she’s making fun of me. “We haven’t broken up yet. We haven’t even announced we’re dating yet.”

“We just did. You basically told Knox we were sleeping together.”

“I was following your lead! What was I supposed to do, slap your hand away?”

She scowls. “Obviously not. But now Knox knows about us.”

“Sex doesn’t equal dating.”

Her glower tightens. Freezes, like a mask. “It does for me.”

I pick up a package of cupcakes and add them to the full cart. “He spent way too long staring at your tits. And he’s friends with Carson. Don’t put him on your list.”

Rory plays with the hem of her shirt. “Shouldn’t cheating override the bro code? Carson made it clear he didn’t want me.”

“All he made clear was that he’s a philandering piece of shit.”

I’m a little surprised by the steel in my tone, and Rory appears taken aback by its presence too.

“I was saying you shouldn’t consider Knox because he’s friends with Carson, not vice versa.”

Rory bites her bottom lip. “You think he knew?”

“I don’t know.”

Knox was feet from the booth where Carson was cheating. They’re both tight with Archie. Guys talk, especially about shit like that. But I don’t know for sure Knox was aware, and I can’t share he was at Proof that night without confessing I was also there, so I don’t add anything else.

“He’s going on the list for now,” Rory decides.

I clench my jaw and continue pushing the cart toward the frozen section, unwilling to analyze why that bothers me so much.

14

“What about arguing the search warrant wasn’t supported by probable cause?” I suggest.

Christina nods, making her colorful earrings jingle. “I’ll look into that too. If Marcus was incorrectly identified in the security footage, the search and seizure of any possessions in his apartment should be inadmissible. Right?”

“Right. The prosecutor still hasn’t sent the footage?”

The summer intern assigned to this case shakes her head, prompting more jingling.