He could hear Gabrielle in the other room, moving around.
“You didn’t date a lot, did you?” It was the first thing, other than “good morning” and “help yourself,” that Liam had said to him since he appeared.
“No.” Not that it was any of his business. But the answer didn’t cost him anything, so he gave it. The way he looked at it, he owed the other guy. He’d taken his money under somewhat false pretenses. Though he’d also given Connelly the services he’d paid for. Was still paying for.
“Barbara can be a real pain.”
“Understood.”
“I have to know, Tanner, do you love her?”
“Completely.”
“If you two were to stay married, you’d be faithful until the day you died.”
“Unequivocally.”
“You’re a real pain in the...forget I said that.”
Elliott hadn’t expected anything could make him feel better. But he almost smiled as he said, “Forgotten.”
Liam didn’t say another word, and, when she finally appeared, neither did Gabrielle, other than to apologize for her lateness.
Neither asked any more questions. Or had any answers for him, either. Yet both had to have spoken with Marie.
He wanted to ask a few questions of his own. To hear someone else’s words running through his mind for a moment or two. He wasn’t about to talk about Marie behind her back. Or in any way risk putting any more shadows over his head.
Living with shadows was worse than being on the outside looking in.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
MARIE WORKED UNTIL closing Monday night. Gabi had texted several times. She’d even come in the shop when she’d arrived home from work. Marie had assured her she was fine, and after promising to call as soon as she came upstairs, her friend had reluctantly agreed to let her handle things her own way and had gone upstairs to have dinner with her husband.
She did as promised. The minute she let herself into her apartment, she phoned Gabi.
“I need you guys as much as you think I do,” she started in as soon as Gabi picked up. “But for right now, I need some time to myself. I need to do what I’m good at. And then have some time to process. All on my own.”
“But—”
“Gabi.” She cut her friend off. “I’m serious. Right now this is between me and my own mind. My own heart. Because it’s my life.” She didn’t want to be mean. Or in any way offensive. “I feel like I’m fighting for my life here,” she told her best friend. Hoping that Gabi would somehow see the things she wasn’t sure she understood herself.
“I’m fully aware that there are issues to be dealt with. A marriage that shouldn’t have happened—at least not so quickly—for one. But right now, before I can talk to anyone, my mother included, I need some time to myself.”
“Okay. I just wanted to—”
“I know.” Marie cut her off again.
“Okay. Well...call me if you need me. Anytime. I don’t care if it’s four in the morning. You call me and I’ll be downstairs in seconds.”
“I know.”
“And you will?”
“Yes.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”