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“Josh sent me.”
I’d figured that part out. “Why?”
“The same as before. Can I come in?”
“No, thanks. No offense, but I want to be alone. You can go back home or to the office or wherever.”
Her eyes showed a hint of recognition or understanding, I couldn’t tell which. “I’ll be out in the car then. If you want to talk, let me know.”
I sniffed. I couldn’t keep myself together and talk about any of this, even with her. “You can go. I don’t need protection, and I don’t want any.”
Constance backed up a step. “Like I said, I’ll be in the car.”
“But—”
She cut me off before I could object further. “It’s the job. I’ll be right out here.” She turned and descended the steps.
I closed the door after wrangling Echo back inside. Constance was the one insisting on staying, but somehow I felt like the schmuck.
Constance was a nice girl. She wasn’t the problem; he was.
“Fuck me,” I said to the room. I’d done it again. I’d called hergirllike Josh would have instead ofwomanas I would have before he’d corrupted me.Dammit, I needed to get him out of my system.
Returning to the TV, I restarted myFriendsreruns. “Fuck you, Josh Benson,” I yelled at the screen. It helped, but another drink of wine helped more.
Two episodes and another glass of wine later, I checked through the front curtains.
Constance was still parked outside.
I made a cup of the coffee she’d liked when she’d been here before and poured it into a travel mug. Marching outside, I took it to her SUV.
She rolled down the window. “Want to talk?”
I offered the mug. “I made you some coffee.”
She didn’t take it. “No thanks. Peeing in a cup once a night is gross enough.”
I winced at the thought.
“I don’t need more liquids.”
I pulled the coffee back. “You really don’t need to stay.” I wrapped an arm around myself in the chill.
“Yes, I do, and it’s not up to you.”
I sighed. “Then I’ll call the cops. I don’t want you out here.” I didn’t need any extra reasons to be down, and her being out here made me feel worse.
“Don’t bother. It’s a public street.”
“Who’s your boss, then? I’ll call him.”
“Won’t do you any good. Until the client calls off the assignment, this is where I’ll be.”
Josh was fucking with me again. “So I have to get Josh to tell you to leave?”
She nodded. “That’s the score.”
She brought the choice into sharp relief: talk to Josh or force her to stay out here.
