Dee’s eyes turned down, which was an unusual gesture for her. “It’s not.” She glanced back up and smiled at Zoe. “But thank you for the reassurance.”
“So what’s wrong? You know you can tell us anything,” Rina replied softly.
A heavy sigh released as Dee’s scowl deepened. “I happen to like makeup sex, but I don’t like the fighting part that happens beforehand.”
“What are you and Sauer fighting about?” The worry on Zoe’s face increased. “Is everything okay?”
Dee’s eyes swiveled to the living room, her eyes narrow and foreboding. Susan almost chuckled as she imagined laser beams shooting from her eyes. She had never seen her so angry before. And at Sauer, she couldn’t imagine what they were arguing about to make her so upset.
“I told Sauer I didn’t want Newman here. He still had to invite that jackass.” Dee looked at her, her expression softening some. “You shouldn’t have to deal with him here, Susan.”
“Thanks for looking out for me, but I don’t want you and Sauer arguing for that reason. I don’t want you guys to argue at all. Newman is his partner and friend. I get it.” She smiled, more for Dee’s benefit rather than wanting to smile.
“It doesn’t mean he should treat you the way he is,” Dee snapped.
“Well, since Zeke made a formal complaint against him with Captain Ganderson, a few other guys have stepped up as well. Apparently, Captain Ganderson talked to him today, but Zeke doesn’t know what happened or what he said. He’s still working, so maybe it was a slap on the wrist.” Zoe took a large swallow of wine. “I agree with Susan, though. You and Sauer shouldn’t argue about that. Just ignore him.”
“I can’t,” Dee said with a pout. “I told Sauer I think he’s hiding something. I don’t trust him. He’s shady as hell, and I never liked that douche.”
Rina chuckled.
“What’s so funny, Rina?” Dee asked as she cocked a brow, yet with laughter in her eyes.
“The way you say douche. That’s the Dee I know and love. This party is to celebrate you guys expecting your first child, not being upset that Newman had to be invited. Let’s have fun.”
Dee leaned over and gave Rina an awkward hug, since neither stood up to give a proper one. “You’re right, of course. Always my voice of reason.”
“Ooo, I know what we can talk about that sounds like fun,” Zoe said a little bit too cheery as she gave her a side-glance.
Susan had to admit, she didn’t like the little teasing glimmer in her eyes.
“You’re obviously dying with anticipation. Spill it already, Zoe,” Dee said with a laugh.
The tension in the room immediately evaporated as soon as they heard Dee’s laughter. A beautiful sound.
“Yeah, spill, Susan,” Zoe said mischievously, as she looked her directly in the eye.
Her face turned beet red as three sets of eyes looked her way. She didn’t want the attention on her. Although she was happy Dee was back in a good mood, she’d rather have the attention back on her.
“About…what?” Her brows dipped into a frown. “I don’t want to talk about work drama. It’s been a stressful week. I want to forget about it for the weekend.”
Zoe still had a wicked smile as she took a sip of wine and shook her head no. “That’s not what I’m talking about. You know.”
Zoe couldn’t possibly be talking about Stitch. There’s no way she could know. Nobody knew that they hooked up and broke up within days. They weren’t exactly cloak and dagger about seeing each other, but they also didn’t announce to their friends what was going on. Could she really know?
Well, she wasn’t about to go there, if that wasn’t what she was talking about.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
They broke their gaze with her to look behind her. She turned slightly to see what caught their attention, only to connect eyes with Stitch, whose expression lit up with desire immediately. She could see the fire in his eyes, the delicious intent in his smile. He winked as he disappeared down the hallway where she assumed he was going to use the bathroom.
When she turned back to the table, all three of them stared at her in shock and a little bit of giddiness.
“Do you and Stitch have a thing going on?” Dee leaned forward toward her as she whispered the question she so did not want to answer.
“What makes you think that?” Susan wasn’t prepared to answer that, if ever.
“Because he sure in the hell didn’t wink at any of us,” Dee said with a laugh.
“He’s your best friend. I’m sure he was winking at you.” Why in the world would he be winking at her? She demanded commitment and he threw it back in her face. If he thought he could keep jerking her around, he was mistaken.
Dee shook her head no adamantly. “Nope. He doesn’t wink at me. Ever.” Her jaw dropped as true happiness lit up her face. “Did you sleep with him?”
“Geez, Dee, talk a little louder. I’m not sure all the guys heard you,” she said a little too snippy.
“Damn, ladies, do you hear the denial in her tone? She has a thing for Stitch.” Dee chuckled with Zoe and Rina.
“He’s hot as hell. And a total sweetheart. It’d be great if you guys got together. You make an adorable couple,” Zoe said.
Adorable couple?
He was at least five or six inches taller than her. He had tattoos lining his body, whereas her skin was free and clear. He was arrogant and cocky and all too confident. She was firm, yet timid in ways that she hated to admit. He had the bad boy persona written all over him. She probably looked like the girl next door. Unfortunately, as he pointed out, he had a criminal record. She worked for the police department.
Adorable was not how she would describe them. Completely mismatched was more like it.
Rina smiled and nodded, but thankfully didn’t add her two cents to the conversation. Susan didn’t need any more words to shove the dagger that was centered in her heart in any further. They thought they were encouraging her, when they were just cementing in her head that he’d never be hers or willing to try a committed relationship. She didn’t want to explain everything that happened between them.
“I know that look. Something happened between you two and I’m not getting the good kind of vibes.” Dee’s smile slowly withered away. “Do I need to kick my best friend’s ass for hurting you?”
“No, Dee. I…” The words were there, but difficult to say. “I knew what I was getting myself into. We had fun, and now it’s over.”
Dee looked perplexed for a second. “So, you’re admitting to sleeping with him, that it didn’t work out, yet he’s winking at you like you might get some tonight. I’m confused. You need to explain from the beginning.”
Susan sighed in defeat. She wouldn’t be walking away from this table without spilling her guts. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. She’d been dying to tell them since the beginning, but afraid of what they would think. Afraid of what Dee would think. Right now, she didn’t look like she had an issue with the thought of them together. Only an issue that it didn’t work out.
“Okay, I’ll tell you.” She grinned. “Are you sure it won’t be awkward, because that man…you might need to turn the heat off and turn the air on. It’s going to get hot in here.”
The entire table roared with laughter, especially Dee, which made Susan as happy as can be. Because in the end, keeping her friend happy and stress free was what she wanted. If she had to do that at her own expense, then so be it.
Talking about Stitch might turn out to be a good thing. Perhaps Dee could give her a little insight into the mind of Stitch. Who better to tell her the good stuff than his best friend growing up?
Two nights ago, she gave him an ultimatum, resigned to the fact it was over.
Now, she saw a little hope in the air she could try to work things through with him. Maybe help change his mind somehow that they’d be good together. She wasn’t ready to lose him from her life.
That smoldering
look he gave her a few minutes ago told her exactly how horny she was. Her body reacted instantly, her heart starting the low pitter-patter of anticipation, her body aching and waiting for his touch.
She wanted him.
She decided she would fight for him.
♡
Gripping the sides of the sink, he tried hard to keep his cool. Walking past Susan, displaying his intentions with such an obvious wink, might’ve been the wrong move.
What was Deena thinking? Did she approve? Hate the idea of him and Susan together?
He had no idea what she would think about him dating one of her friends. That wasn’t something he ever did before, and vice versa. They always avoided that territory.
He sincerely hoped Deena didn’t disapprove of the idea, because he wouldn’t be walking away from Susan, not even for his best friend.
Wow. What did that mean? He couldn’t believe he even felt that way toward a woman.
When he walked into the house tonight, his palms sweaty, an unusual occurrence for him, he almost felt like he had been punched in the gut by the sight of her. It didn’t matter what she wore. Tonight, dressed in casual jeans and a T-shirt, she was breathtakingly exquisite. He had ached to pull her into his arms, shove her against the wall, tug lightly on that simple ponytail she always wore and thrust deep inside her right against the wall, be damned that everyone stood in the room, and devour her from head to toe. That’s how fired up Susan always got him.
For the last hour, torture like nothing else consumed him, knowing he was in one room and her in another.
His erratic thoughts, his distractions from the conversation going on around him, further cemented the idea that he needed to be with Susan. He needed to give them a chance, even though he knew it was doomed for failure.
He needed to get his shit together in this bathroom, his calm, cool demeanor back in place, and walk out there like everything was good when he wasn’t positive if he could control himself. He still wanted to shove her against the wall and love her body like he’d never loved her before.
Three taps and one loud knock sounded on the door.
Shit was about to hit the fan. Only one person would knock on the door while he was in the bathroom.
Deena.
She hated the idea of him and Susan together. Why else would she be knocking on the door? He should’ve never winked at Susan.
Ignoring her wouldn’t make the inevitable argument go away.
He opened the door. Deena stood in the hallway with the most evil smirk he had ever seen.
“So?”
Cocking a brow, he held onto the door for a tiny morsel of support. Which was strange to realize he needed. This was Deena. This was his best friend. His rock through his childhood.
“What? I’m trying to take a piss and you’re bugging me, doll. Is this a hormonal thing because of the pregnancy?” He chuckled. “Oh, wait, no, that’s you being you. Annoying me at every available opportunity.”
She placed a hand to his chest and pushed him inside the bathroom, then shut the door and leaned against it, as if it would keep him inside. As if she could block his escape. Which was something he seriously wanted to do. Escape as fast and far away as possible.
He didn’t want to hear what she had to say. He didn’t want to tell his best friend to go to hell. Because he would if she said something he didn’t like to hear.
What kind of friend did that make him? What kind of friend would act that way over a woman? Not him. But right now, he was all kinds of prepared to do that.
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
Figuring he didn’t like how nonchalant she looked, that he needed to display the same kind of composure, even though he was as jittery as if a thousand ants were squirming around his body, he took two steps back and leaned against the sink as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
“I don’t think so.” Lifting a brow, he smirked back. “Is there something you want to tell me?”
Probably a dumb question, but he wanted to end this conversation. Of course, without him the one starting it.
What he wanted to do was shove her away from the door and run. He’d never do that, of course. Because, one, she was his best friend. Two, she was pregnant. Why did she have to corner him? He felt like a trapped animal, ready to fight for his life.
She pierced her lips, as if she were contemplating how to gut him from head to toe.
“What’s the deal with you and Susan?”
Done.
She said it.
She brought it out in the open.
And he had no clue what to say.
He knew he wanted Susan in his life. He knew he would say the words Susan wanted to hear so he could keep her for a little bit longer. He knew they would never work out in the long run. He didn’t know how to explain that to Deena, or if he even should. It wasn’t any of her business. Did Susan know what Deena was doing? Maybe she did. Did she send her in here?
“You’re honestly not going to tell me. Since when do we keep secrets from each other, Stitch?” Deena stepped away from the door and closer to him. “You must like her a lot to keep silent like you are.”
“I do like her.”
Deena shook her head as she laughed. “That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?”
He stepped closer and couldn’t stop the sneer-like expression as he all but growled, “It’s not really any of your damn business, doll.”
He was as shocked as her by his words and tone of voice. She backed away to the side, moving away from the door, which gave him the opportunity he had been looking for since she walked into the bathroom. An escape route.
Grabbing the door handle and gripping it hard, he looked at Deena and paused. He knew he shouldn’t walk out, but he didn’t know what to say. An apology for snapping at her would be a good start. She could also say something to him. Stop him from leaving. Neither said a word.
The door whipped open, his anger skyrocketing. Angry for talking to Deena that way. Angry for not keeping his cool. Angry for letting a woman make him feel this way.
“Stitch, don’t leave.”
The pressure he was exerting on the handle made his hand hurt as he stopped at the sound of Deena’s soft, whispered words. It was probably a good thing he wasn’t holding the handle with his dominant hand, because that one already hurt like hell. Just as her words did. All he was doing was hurting his best friend. Hurting Susan. He had no idea how to stop hurting the people he cared about.
He let the handle go and walked away.
Walked away from a friend he had never walked away from. He had never in his life turned his back on Deena and left things hanging like that. Did he push her out of his life years ago? Yeah, but she’s the one who walked away back then. Not him. He was better at convincing people to walk away rather than him doing the walking.
Even as much as he wanted to stop moving forward, he couldn’t make himself halt. His feet kept going faster and faster until the front door appeared before him. He yanked it open and stepped outside, not looking back once as he fled to his car.
He just ran like a frightened animal. Like a wuss.
Deena didn’t deserve that.
As he started his car, the beautiful engine purring like a contented cat, he knew he needed to shut the car off and walk back inside to apologize.
He backed out of the driveway instead.
What the hell happened?
He intended to get Susan back in his life tonight. In turn, he found himself losing his best friend.
What. The. Hell.
Chapter 11
Susan set her work phone back on the cradle and sighed heavily, hating that she didn’t have better news for Sauer. She came into work on her day off, on a Saturday, no less, to get ahead of some of her cases. Sauer and Newman’s latest string of murders being one of them. She was starting to make this a bad habit, coming to work on a Saturday when she could be doing something fun on her day off. What was wrong wit
h her?
It did creep her out they had a potential serial killer on their hands, but she also wanted to show Newman she didn’t play favorites. She could bump their stuff up as much as she bumped other detectives’ stuff up.
Except she had nothing good to inform Sauer. No viable prints came back from the latest victim’s home. Not in the house. Not from the wine glass they assumed the killer used. Instead, she found the prints she lifted from both wine glasses were from the victim herself, which would make sense if she grabbed them from the cupboard and filled them up. Which means, the killer must’ve never touched them. But why would she grab two glasses? She must’ve been expecting someone to visit.
The blood she found in the bedroom also belonged to the victim. Maybe she was losing her focus, because Dr. Everly confirmed it probably came from the victim when the killer hit her in the nose. He found traces of blood on the inside of her nose, and a small bruise forming on the outside. She didn’t notice that when she looked at the victim at the crime scene.
Although, when she thought back, did she really look closely at the victim? If she was losing focus, then she wasn’t doing her job as well as she should be. That was unacceptable.
The prints she found in the first victim’s home turned out to be prints from the victim herself. No good evidence popped up in the second victim’s crime scene either.
So far, they had nothing. She had nothing to help Sauer and Newman find this killer.
Cases like this frustrated her. It made her think she was missing something. Or maybe the killer was just that good.
She had one theory that had been filtering through her mind recently. Since last night, actually, because she couldn’t sleep. She couldn’t shut her mind off. Thinking about the case had been better than thinking about Stitch and the reason he stormed out of the house without a word goodbye to anyone. When Dee came back to the dining room, it was obvious she had talked to Stitch, but she wouldn’t say why he left.
Susan wasn’t dumb. Because of her. Because Dee didn’t like the idea of them dating. But she could never get the question out—why don’t you like the idea of us together? When they were talking about it, it didn’t seem like she hated the idea. Then she disappeared from the table and Stitch stormed out of the house. Only one conclusion could be drawn from that. Dee didn’t like the idea of them together.
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