Page 78 of Wild Card 13

"There has unfortunately only ever been one."

"The one you've spent eight years pretending doesn't exist?"

"Yes."

"The one you told me yesterday you intended to avoid for the remainder of the road trip?"

"Yes."

"The one who works for your father."

I groaned. "Can we not make a list?"

"I think the list is important."

"It isn't helping."

"No," she agreed. "It probably isn't." She sat there studying me for another long moment. “You've been crying."

I looked away. "I am not crying."

"You have mascara running down your cheek."

I rubbed beneath both eyes.

Naomi smiled despite herself. "Got you."

"I hate you."

"No, you don't."

That landed a little too close to an old conversation with Ty. My smile disappeared.

Naomi caught it immediately. "Oh," she said softly.

"It wasn't just sex." I closed my eyes.Damn it.

"And?" she asked.

"He brought me coffee."

Naomi waited.

"He remembered how I take it."

"...Lucy."

I laughed once. It sounded suspiciously like it might become another cry if I wasn't careful. "Eight years, Naomi."

"I know."

"He remembered. I thought..." I swallowed. "I thought maybe I'd imagined everything when I woke up."

"But you hadn't."

"No."

"He came back."