“She’s like me. We both think it will violate her privacy and yet, we want to keep her safe.”
I cleared my throat. “I could do it.”
Jude stared at me for a moment.
Worried I’d given myself away, I said, “It would keep you out of it. Plausible deniability.”
“Except how would you know to do it unless April told me and I told you?”
How did I reveal to him that I knew about the dating without him getting mad that I hadn’t said anything? “She’d mentioned something to me about dating.”
“You knew?”
“Ah…not about this online thing.” Fuck, I was lying to my best friend.
He shook his head. “I hate to throw you under the bus, my friend.”
Whew. “Better me than you, right? I mean you’ve known Petal all your life.”
“At least since high school,” he said. “She and April are like sisters. I’d like to keep it that way.”
“I’ll be happy to.”
Petal would probably be pissed, but if it kept her safe, then it was a risk I was willing to take.
After Jude left, I tried to work, but the more I thought about Petal and other men, the more incensed I got. It went beyond they’re touching her, which was fucking maddening to think about. But also, I imagined her talking to them on the phone. Her sweet voice making them feel happy and calm. Her smiling at them with that radiant smile that lit the recipient up from the inside out.
Finally, I couldn’t take it. I tossed my pen down, grabbed my coat and headed out.
“Little early for cupcakes and coffee, isn’t it?” Dina said as I strode past her desk.
“Nope.”
She arched a brow. “Can I give you money to buy me something?”
“What do you want? I’ll buy it.” I knew I sounded surly, so I tried to smile.
“Pumpkin cheesecake.”
“Be back soon.” I headed out the door and straight to Petal’s. I hoped to hell her store wasn’t busy, but when I arrived, there was a man standing at the counter, licking icing off his finger. I knew that look in his eyes. The one that said he wished she was sucking it off his dick. Or he wished he was sucking it off her tits.
Petal’s cheeks flushed at whatever he said, and I fucking saw red. Her head lifted as the door chime rang and I stepped in. Her eyes went round as she saw me enter. I wasn’t sure if she was feeling guilty that I was catching her with another man, or worried about the murder in my eyes.
“So, Petal, about Saturday—”
“She’s busy, Saturday,” I said.
Her eyes narrowed and I knew I was crossing the line but didn’t care.
“Oh.” The man looked at me and then Petal. He seemed to wait for an introduction. When he didn’t get one, he extended his hand to me. “I’m Paul.”
“I’m Cyrus.” Did I squeeze his hand so hard he winced? Yes, yes I did.
Paul shook out his hand giving me a look before turning to Petal. “So not Saturday. How about Sunday?”
Petal’s disapproving stare stayed on me. “I’ll have to get back to you, Paul.”
“Yeah, sure.” He gave me another look. “I’ll talk to you later then. Maybe we can message tonight.”