Page 15 of Nothing At All

“Not gonna let her mess us up.” He darted another glance toward the window and her backyard beyond. “I’ll be careful.”

“Thank you.” I hugged myself into him. The sharp scents of onion and celery drifted around us. “What are you making?”

“Jambalaya.”

“Oh, yum.” I pinched his waist, the muscle barely giving under my fingers. I loved touching him, no matter how I did it. “Can I help?”

He lowered his head to brush his mouth over mine. “You can set the table.”

While I pulled down bowls and gathered cutlery, we chatted about our day, Nicole’s presence dying away. He’d spent most of the day working traffic, and I’d worked the smaller hospitals in the surrounding counties. Soon, spicy goodness simmered away on the stove, scenting the air and making my stomach growl.

He was an amazing cook. When he set his mind to being good at something, he didn’t stop until he was. I reaped the benefits of that personality trait in more ways than one.

When we heard Lydia’s car in the drive, we went down to meet her and EmmaLee. As I waved at Lydia, the side door of Nicole’s house flew open and she ran down the steps, dressed in brief, tight workout shorts, a matching sports bra, and spotless athletic shoes.

“Lydia!” She sprinted around the front of Lydia’s car to engulf her in a hug.

Frowning and stiff in Nicole’s embrace, Lydia shot a pointed look at EmmaLee over Nicole’s bare shoulder. “Hey, Nicole.”

“It’s so good to see you.” Nicole gave her a squeeze and pulled back, wrapping her arm through Lydia’s. “I’ve missed you.”

She flashed a big smile at Dan and ignored me before gracing EmmaLee with a tight baring of her teeth that might have been a smile. Maybe. “Hey, EmmaLee.”

At Dan’s side, I resisted an eyeroll. She was so . . . performative.

I caught Dan’s eye and tilted my head in her direction. You see? Face set in somber lines, he nodded.

Nicole kept a tight hold on Lydia and ate Dan up with her eyes. “What are y’all doing?”

“Having dinner.” Lydia disentangled herself and gave EmmaLee a tiny shove toward the stairs. “Looks like you’re headed to work out. We won’t keep you.”

“Oh. Yeah.” Mouth drooping with disappointment, she trailed another hungry appraisal over Dan. “Y’all have a good night. Layla, good to see you.”

I didn’t correct her, but I grabbed Dan’s arm, hard, as he opened his mouth.

“Lydia, call me.” She stretched one arm overhead, bending to the side and shoving her chest out. “So we can get together soon.”

“Right.” A wry note in her voice, Lydia followed EmmaLee up the stairs. I nudged Dan behind them.

EmmaLee laughed as we piled through the door. “Oh, she hasn’t changed. She is still a fake bitch.”

“Hey.” Scowling, Dan shut the door. “We don’t call women that.”

“You don’t.” EmmaLee crossed to the refrigerator and grabbed two beers. Passing one to Lydia, she popped the top on hers, a soft hiss and wispy vapor rising in the air. She circled the bottle among Lydia, herself, and me. “We can call it like it is.”

Over a long sip, Lydia pinned him with a look. “How long has she been into you?”

Panic flitted across his face. “I . . . she . . . I don’t know.”

Glaring at him a moment, Lydia turned her attention on me.

“It’s okay.” I lifted a hand. With my other, I stroked down his spine. Tension vibrated through his tall form. “We’ve talked about it.”

“Be careful with her, Dan, for real.” Lydia folded her arms, beer dangling from her fingers. “She’s had Allison filling her head for years. Who knows what sneaky fuckery she’s capable of?”

I snorted. “She’s too obvious to be sneaky.”

Dan looked from his sister to me, frustrated. “How do you know all this?”