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“No. I’m an investigator. Guess what I do? I investigate. I saw it on Gene’s arm and knew it was on my husband’s. Then, being curious as a goddamn cat, I looked it up. It’s in Ethan’s Native language, a symbol. It means lovers, partners, and a couple. I’m going to postulate that they got it when they couldn’t be out all those years ago. That was their declaration of love to each other.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
She shrugged.
“Why wouldn’t I be? I don’t own Ethan. That’s his arm. He can put fucking Daffy Duck giving head if he wants to on it. I gotta look at it, but I don’t have to wear it.”
Tommy was befuddled.
“But what if he goes back to him? What if you wake up in a week and he’s gone, leaving you for Gene?”
“Ethan wouldn’t do me dirty like that, and he wouldn’t leave. We have kids and a life. We made a world. Gene can’t destroy that. I know what my husband feels for Gene and me. Really.”
He needed to know.
“How do you know?”
This was like talking to a brick wall. She really hoped that the dude stalling her enjoyed his last moments of peace. She was going to make him cry for making her do this in a police station.
“Because I know my husband. Until you know that about your partner, I wouldn’t get married. You have some issues that need to be resolved.”
Oh, he wasn’t getting married. There was no doubt what was the cause of that.
A Native man who had his heart.
Yeah, this was even clearer. He was going back to being a cop.
“I can’t believe any of this,” Tommy said, closing his eyes. “I just don’t have words for the betrayal I feel over this.”
She stopped him.
“Tommy, you didn’t catch them naked in bed. You found out some things that clearly make you upset. That’s not the same thing.”
He was staring straight ahead in anger.
“I suggest you talk to Gene and discuss it. I’m just an outside bystander who is married to Gene’s ex. I’m telling you that they aren’t running off to get hitched because one, he’s already hitched, and two, Gene is an honorable man. He’s Dolly’s godfather and part of our world. I know him and my husband. We’re all good.”
Tommy stared at her.
“You’re odd.”
She snorted.
“You don’t say.”
Only, she knew all of this was likely why her husband was off with his ex.
Gene was special to Ethan, and if he called and asked for help, he’d be on his way to find him.
Truth be told, she knew that Gene was the ONLY reason Ethan survived out in the world alone. He’d saved him, and she owed him for that.
Plus, she wasn’t shitting all over his memories with Gene. As Ethan’s partner, it was her job to help him, not make him jump through hoops. That degraded a marriage, and she liked her life.
“I need your help,” Tommy said.
“Uh, not if you want me to make Ethan and Gene ‘break up’ from this imaginary relationship you think they have,” she stated. “I’m not wading into that crazy for anyone. First, because you’re loco, and second, because my husband is entitled to privacy. If he wants to help his friend, I’m good with that.”
He figured as much.
