“Or maybe it’s going well, and we would be intruding.”
Laurel shakes her head adamantly. “He doesn’t look like he’s having fun.”
I’d like to control myself, but I can’t help asking, “Think that might just be wishful thinking?”
Glaring at me, she says, “No. I know what his face looks like when he’s enjoying himself, and that is not it.”
Well, this is backfiring quickly. The last thing I want to do is go sit next to Sin and Marlena on their fake date and watch Laurel moon at him like he’s the greatest thing since sliced fucking bread. Also, she’ll be mean to Marlena, and I’ve brought enough shit on that poor girl.
“No,” I say, firmly. “They’re on their date, we’re on ours.”
Ignoring me, she shrugs out of my hold and ducks behind me, heading for their table.
“Laurel. Goddammit.” I turn and head after her, but the six-inch heels I bought her don’t seem to be slowing her down now. Normally she is considerate; I’ve even noticed her apologizing to people I’ve brushed past, but right now she plows through them on her way to interrupt Sin’s date.
Well, this is probably going to blow up in my face. Knowing Sin the way I do, I can’t imagine this date is going well. In fact, I figure it’s probably terrible, and I was planning on sending Marlena a bouquet of apology flowers tomorrow. I was relieved she had agreed to it, but she’s sweet and wanted to help me cover my tracks so Laurel wouldn’t be hurt, even though Laurel would currently like to see her murdered, ground up, and stuffed into a dog food can.
Marlena’s laugh sounds authentic as we get within earshot. I wouldn’t have taken her for much of an actress, but hell, I’m convinced she’s having a good time.
Sin has better instincts, so he notices Laurel first. Marlena looks up, startled, and the happiness drains out of her face.
“Hi,” Laurel says. The brightness of her tone is so aggressive, I half-expect to see a look of pure madness on her face, but she’s managing to smile.
Sin shifts, looking down. I already know he has good control of his facial expressions, so I’m less impressed that he looks like someone who legitimately got caught out on a date by his ex.
“Oh, hello,” Marlena says, forcing a smile.
“You were just working. Weren’t you just working?”
Marlena nods, tucking a chunk of hair behind her ears. “Yeah. Sin picked me up when I got off, brought me over here.”
Laurel looks a little like Marlena just punched her in the gut. Laurel’s gaze drifts to Sin again, but he will not look at her. I’ve never known him to avoid conflict the way he is right now, but he is very obviously unwilling to look at Laurel. I have to wonder why. Is it because he thinks that’s the way to play it, or because he won’t be able to pull it off if he looks at her? Is he afraid to see the pain he might be inflicting by helping me out? He’s clearly inflicted a good deal already, because Laurel’s chest is working way too hard.
Laurel’s mouth opens like she wants to say something, but then closes, like she can’t find her words.
Marlena clears her throat uncomfortably, looking up at Laurel. “Um, did you guys want to join us?”
“Yes,” Laurel says. Without waiting for agreement from anyone else, she takes a step to the left and sits down, practically right on top of Sin. He quickly scoots down, but only one spot.
Sighing, I take a seat next to Marlena, who scoots closer to Sin to make room for me. Laurel watches the distance shrink with dread. If Marlena touches Sin, I think Laurel is going to launch herself across the table and claw her face off.
What a wonderful fucking date.
Marlena either doesn’t remember that I told her Laurel and Sin were once involved, or doesn’t care. She sells the date, turning a smiling gaze on him. “We were just talking about—”
Sin interrupts. “We were just talking about how rude it is when women approach men they clearly want to sleep with while they’re out on dates with other people.” He pauses just long enough to laugh a little, then he says, “Oh, wait, no.” He looks over at Laurel. “That was you that said that, wasn’t it?”
Laurel glares at him. “Oh, you weren’t talking about how you don’t date, ever? That’s a fun topic.” Elbowing him with exaggerated good-nature, she tells Marlena, “Forever alone, this one. He’ll fuck with your mind, but don’t expect him to fuck anything else.”
“Keep it up,” Sin tells her, grabbing his bottle of beer and tipping it back.
“I will,” she states, not at all worried that she’s coming off like a crazy person. “What kind of sex are you into, Marlena? He likes to tie girls up so they can’t leave. Not just during sex, either. I hope you have captivity fantasies.”
With such smooth cruelty that even I’m impressed, he says, “If she doesn’t yet, she will by the time I’m done with her.”
He wins that round. Laurel loses her crazy mean-face and looks like she just took a fatal blow. Fuck, that’s not fun to watch.
Even Sin looks away.