Page 24 of Cold Mercy

“How is your new friend, Thomas, doing?”

I almost laugh.

“You ask me that every day,” I say lightly. “He’s not my friend. And I don’t know how he is.”

She brightens like she didn’t hear me.

“He's so handsome and strong…”

I cut her off with a small smile.

“So if he’s a serial killer, I should be friends with him because he’s strong and handsome?”

She gasps a little.

“Oh no, Ms. Sophia, he's a good man. A very good man. I know it.”

“Thank you for the wisdom,” I murmur.

I pick up Elizabeth from her apartment, and we head straight to the bridal salon located in the heart of the district, where everything smells like expensive perfume and expectations.

We’re seated on a couch with two cappuccinos while the consultants prepare fitting rooms. I observe Elizabeth, trying to read her expression. If Thomas told her anything about what happened… she’d be on me before the door even opened. But she’s relaxed and, to be honest, annoyingly cheerful.

She shoots me that sly smile of hers.

“So…what's the verdict on Thomas?”

She nudges my knee with hers.

“You two survived an entire day together booking my wedding, and I haven't heard a peep since. How was it?”

“It was fine,” I say, keeping my voice neutral.

“Oh, come on. You two spent hours with him, and I won't shut up after a stupid ‘fine.’”

“He’s a good guy,” I admit. “If what he says is true, if he really is an IT guy in your fiancé’s company, if he doesn’t have a secret wife or five children in another state, then he’s… decent.”

Elizabeth’s smile widens.

“Keep going.”

I roll my eyes, but I keep talking.

“He was gentle. Didn’t push, didn’t ask for ugly details. Let me go first everywhere. Better company than I expected.”

Elizabeth’s grin turns downright radiant.

“That explains why he keeps asking about you. I knew it.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask, but I don't know if I want to hear the answer.

“He was at our place for dinner yesterday. Asked how you were, looked worried. And a few days before that, he cornered James at work, asking the same thing. I’ve known it since the first second. You like each other.”

I almost choke. No. No, absolutely not.

My mind goes straight where it shouldn’t.

He found me bleeding on the bathroom floor. That’s why he’s checking in. Don’t romanticize pity, Elizabeth.