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At first, I thought she might avoid the question. From the look on her face, I’m pretty sure she considered it. Then she sat up stiffly in her seat, and released my leg. “My mother was an alcoholic.” Laney stared at him a moment before meeting my eyes. For the first time since we’d met, she seemed cold and detached. I didn’t like it, but I accepted it was probably the defense mechanism she’d used her whole lifetocope.
“Past tense?” Ty frowned. Then he winced and I realized from the look on Kate’s face, she’d probably kicked him under thetable.
Laney nodded. “She committed suicide when I was in college.” Then she turned to Kate. “I need togetup.”
Kate nodded numbly and slid out of the booth. Laney glided over the cushion and soon landed on her feet. “Are you coming back?” Kate laid a hand on herforearm.
Shaking her head, Laney murmured, “I really should get backtowork.”
“But lunch,” Iblurtedout.
“I’m not hungry anymore,” Laney whispered, then she bolted to the elevator anddisappeared.
“Thanks,” I grumbled when she was completely out of sight. “You didn’t let me explain. Laney probably thinks I’m leaving town.” I rubbed the back ofmyneck.
“She likes you, Harry. Let her calm down, then talk to her.” Kate smiled warmly at me. “She’sperfect.”
Ty brightened. “I was thinking the same thing. She seems to be so informed, so assertive. She’s just what Drewneeds.”
I could feel my spirits sinking. “What do you mean, Ty?” I asked quietly. The question was a technicality. We’d known each other for so long, I knew precisely what hemeant.
“Drew needs a woman who will be the perfect combination. Miss Jenner seems like she can pull off nurturing just as well as she could drill sergeant.” He grinned proudly. “Problemsolved.”
Kate shook her head emphatically. “What are you talking about? The last thing Laney needs is Drew ruiningherlife.”
I shifted to lean my back into the corner of the booth. Watching them argue over this was like the volleying of the ball at a tennis match. And though they disagreed, there was no finality to it, like I’d seen in so many relationships. No matter what, they seemed confident nothing would change how they felt about eachother.
“Please,” Ty murmured. “No one is better equipped. They’d be perfecttogether.”
Kate calmly looked at me. “I’m sorry, Harry. What my loving husband fails to understand is that just because someone has had a shit life doesn’t mean they need to choose more shit.” She laid a hand on the table near my plate. “Those of us with common sense can see that the two of you have feelings for each other. In fact, I bet you’ll end uptogether.”
“You bet?” Ty’s brows rose. “Do we really want to go downthatpath?”
“Oh no. No bets.” She glaredathim.
“I’m with Kate. No bets,” I commented, but neither of them seemed to be paying attentiontome.
“You started it. I merely think Drew will land Miss Jenner.” Tyshrugged.
“Are you kidding me? You must be blind. Harry already has.” She sighed dreamily. “He’s everything sheneeds.”
Ty slapped his forehead. “How could you possibly know this? You’ve known Harry for like twelve minutes and Miss Jenner for what,aweek?”
Kate gnawed on her cheek and I waited for Ty to pick up on it. Unfortunately, the waiter returned with our food. He gave Kate and Ty their meals then he seemed to hesitate with me when he saw the empty seat. I licked my lips. “Can you please pack these two?” I nodded. “And I’ll need to go drinks.” I gestured to oursodas.
“Of course, sir.” The waited disappeared into the kitchenagain.
I waited a moment, but Ty seemed to be so focused on his meal, he didn’t even pick up the conversation. I chose my words carefully. “Kate, how long have you knownLaney?”
Her cheeks turned pink and she set her silverware on the table. “We went to the same boarding school on the eastcoast.”
Ty sucked in a breath. “Why am I hearing about this just now? This presents a wrinkle in theaudit.”
She nodded. “I only realized it yesterday. I heard her singing in the shower. That’s how I remembered.” Kate looked up sadly. “We were actually roommates for all of three weeks. As fate would have it, we ended up leaving the school about the same time. My mother had passed away a few days before her step-father. Apparently, the will was being contested by his adult children who were roughly the same age as her mother and that’s why she had to leave.Money.”
Setting down his silverware, Ty nodded. “This explains a fewthings.”
“I know, right?” She offered him apleadinglook.
