At her words, I closed my eyes, my body got stiff and I was so freaked, I didn’t notice Sam’s arm going tight or his body closing in on mine.
When I didn’t speak, Paula whispered, “Oh shit, I took that too far, didn’t I?”
She did.
She was right with what she said, of course. It sucked for Milo, who was a good guy who was driven to do a very bad thing, but there was no question his actions meant good things for me including getting my life back, getting a shitload of money and dodging a bullet, literally because Cooter and Vanessa were going to hire a hit man.
But still. I wasn’t ready for it to be laid out like that and certainly not when I was experiencing all that was Sam. I wasn’t prepared. I was vulnerable and her words brought shit to the surface I didn’t want to deal with unless I was in familiar surroundings and close to Memphis who would cuddle, give me doggie kisses and make me feel better.
I sucked in an unsteady breath but didn’t open my eyes when I replied quietly, “No, honey, that’s okay.”
Silence then, “No, it was too far.”
“It’s okay.”
I heard her take in breath then say cautiously, “I know we haven’t gotten ‘round to talking about this, babe, but you know we’ll have to and –”
I shook my head then tipped it down, opened my eyes and looked at the floor, whispering, “I can’t do this now.”
More silence then, “Oh God, I forgot. You’re at a party.”
Yes, I was.
Oh shit.
I was.
With ex-model Luciana who had a villa, a Lamborghini, four other cars and a boat and Sampson Freaking Cooper who I noticed belatedly was holding me front-to-front in one arm.
Shit!
I looked up at him, he was staring down at me with that intent look and, I knew, listening to every word.
“Yes,” I answered Paula, my eyes sliding away. “I’m at a party.”
“Right, well, okay then, don’t hate me but I’m gonna take this shot.”
Oh man.
Sneak attack!
Before I could intervene, she kept talking.
“I’m gonna get your house sorted for you and then me, Teri and Missy are gonna get you sorted, babe. No,” she said the last word swiftly like she thought I’d refuse which, totally, I would, that was I would if I didn’t have an audience. “When he was alive, we get it, he was a threat. You don’t see your girl with bruises on her face too often to count for seven years and not get that, babe. And also not get that that shit dished out regularly would put the fear of God in anybody. But he’s gone and we’re gonna sort out the shit he left behind and, Kia, we all dig that you think you can just put it behind you, get rid of all that was him and move on but that shit isn’t gonna fly and, deep down, I know you know it, girl.”
“Paula, please, now is really not the time,” I whispered and when I did, Sam’s other arm slid around me.
Damn it!
“I know, I’m just saying, when you get home, we’re making it the time.”
And I was just thinking that maybe I’d find a place on Crete and never go home.
“Kia? Babe?” she called.
“Fine,” I whispered because at that moment I had no choice.
“Okay,” she whispered back.
“I’ll find a computer to pull up the pictures you send me but it’s late here so it won’t be until morning.”
“Right.”
“Okay.”
“Well then, have fun at your party.”
Impossible.
“I will,” I lied.
“Ciao, babe,” she said and I could hear her smile in her voice but could only guess it was relieved.
“Ciao, you big dork,” I replied and I could then hear her laughter which I knew was relieved. My words said I wasn’t pissed at her and I’d given in on the talk.
Then she was gone and I knew at that moment, in Heartmeadow, Indiana, my friend Paula was dialing Missy or Teri or, if she was at a phone that had the option, she was conferencing.
Shit.
I pulled in a soft breath as I flipped my phone shut, tucking it into my bag when Luci unsurprisingly immediately offered, “Tomorrow, when you wake up, you can use my computer.”
God, seriously, it would be a lot better if she was a haughty uber-bitch like all supermodels were supposed to be and not hyper-friendly.
I looked at her and noticed that Sam’s arms hadn’t moved, nor had his body, which was right in my space.
Still, even so, I ignored both.
“Thanks,” I said softly.
“Prego,” she said softly back.
“Luci, give us a minute, yeah?” Sam said, not softly but firmly and there was only one answer to his “yeah?” which Luci gave him after throwing him a radiant, happy, certain she was going to have quasi nieces and nephews imminently as supplied by Sam and me smile before she melted away.
My mind was stuck on giving Luci nieces and nephews as supplied on me by Sam when Sam called me.
“Baby.”
Reluctantly, I tipped my head back to look up at him.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
“If I say yes, will you ask me repeatedly until I tell you the truth?” I asked back and he grinned.
Then he answered, “Yeah.”
“Then, no.”