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“Absolutely not.” She leaned over and kissed his baby-smooth cheek. “I love you, you know that?”
“I do actually. You loved me so much you sent me a redheaded hottie to sleep with tonight. And you know what they say about redheads.”
She barked out a laugh. “What’s that?”
He pretended to zip his lips. “Sorry, classified info.”
She snapped her seat belt into place. “So you’ve never actually slept with a redhead.”
“You would be correct.” He shot her another grin.
Still smiling, Marcia settled into her seat. He’d cheered her up without even trying. Started to anyway. Figuring out what was going on with Tony would get her the rest of the way there.
She hoped.
“So where to, sunshine? Home? Or should we go drink to our mutually sucky nights?”
“Bummed about the lack of action?”
“Among other things.” Though he shot her another grin, there was no missing the sudden tension in his jaw.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing I can’t handle, sweets.” He took her hand, giving it a quick squeeze before releasing her.
She frowned and stared at his profile. That was two-for-two. Apparently the world had decided she didn’t need to know anything about the people she loved. “That’s it? You’re not giving me any more than that?”
“Let’s just say I needed to impress a woman tonight. I also really needed to get laid.” Such arrogance might’ve curled her lip if not for the way he clenched the steering wheel. “Since neither of those panned out, think I’ll spring for a couple strong drinks.”
“Vague much?” She rolled her eyes. “Sure you won’t tell me? I’m a good listener.”
“Since when?”
“Ouch.” But since he wasn’t entirely wrong, she let it go.
Something else she would have to work on if she wanted to become the queen of advice, of a sexual nature or otherwise. At least she’d begun to make inroads there by listening to Leigh. And she hadn’t hung up on either her or her brother, which had to mean she was learning, right?
“Sorry. Ignore me. Thanks for the offer. When I’m in a place to talk, you’ll be the one I call.”
“Really?”
“You’re my best friend. Didn’t you know that?”
“That’s so cool.” For the first time in a few hours, she grinned. “But doesn’t that violate some strict brother-sister mandate?”
“Does it?” He lifted a shoulder. “I suppose it’d be more manly if I said it was Spencer, but he’s a tough nut to crack. That he even bothers to return my phone calls shows the depth of our brotherly bond.”
“Fuck that. I’m a better best friend than he could be anyhoo.” She snuggled closer and tucked her arm through his, making him laugh. “Let’s go drink those strong drinks at my place. Fewer witnesses to our subsequent walks of shame.”
“You’re on.”
* * * * *
Tony shoved down the rising tide of panic as he swung into Marcia’s parking lot. She was fine. Hadn’t she left a message saying so? She’d just needed some space to cool off.
Why she couldn’t have just waited a couple minutes like he’d asked her to wasn’t the point. She’d gotten a ride home from someone—and God, please let her be home—and now she was probably digging into a pint of Chunky Monkey and curling up with reruns on TV.
She was smart and he had faith in her. Pissed or not, she wouldn’t do something risky or break his trust by going home with some random guy.
