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“He’s busy finishing up packing. He’s moving tomorrow.”
“Shit, I forgot,” he said. “I’ll call Solomon.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’ll take him twenty minutes to get here from the ranch. I can have you home in ten.”
He hesitated for a second longer before nodding. “Okay. Thank you, I appreciate it.”
CHAPTER8
Hal studied his apartment building as Savina parked her truck on the street in front of it. Although it wasn’t late, the street was quiet and dark. His neighbourhood wasn’t known for loud parties or late-night revelers. Most of his neighbours were like him – people in their late forties or early fifties who kept to themselves.
When he’d first moved here, a couple of years after Mary’s death, it had been perfect for him. He was still grieving and didn’t want to be friendly with the neighbours. What he wanted was to curl up inside his grief and never leave. He would have, too, if it hadn’t been for Alan and Solomon. He owed a lot to his best friends, and he had repaid their kindness with petty jealousy and anger. Thank fucking Christ, he’d internalized it all. Neither of them ever knew how he’d really felt watching them live their lives with Savina and Heather while he grieved for his dead wife.
Yeah, internalizing your feelings has done wonders for you. Asshole.
He ignored his inner voice as Savina shut off her truck. The engine ticked in the quiet, and he unbuckled his seat belt. “Thank you for the ride home.”
“You’re welcome.” Savina stared out the windshield, her hands clasped loosely around the steering wheel.
Hal hesitated. No doubt what he was about to say would lead to another fight, but he had to say it. Savina was putting herself in danger, and it ate him alive with worry.
He sucked in a fortifying breath. “We need to talk, Savina.”
Her hands tightened around the steering wheel. “I know. I’m sorry for what I said and did at the clinic. It was beyond inappropriate, and I should have apologized before now.”
She looked at him, her cheeks a soft pink and regret shining out from her eyes. “Did I jeopardize your job?”
He stared blankly at her, and she said, “I am happy to speak with Nathan about what he saw. I’m more than willing to tell him it was all my fault and that you shouldn’t be punished for –”
“Savina, stop,” Hal said. “That isn’t what I wanted to talk to you about.”
She stared at him in surprise. “It isn’t?”
“No. I want to talk about you going on dates and getting drunk.”
Irritation flicked across her face. “It isn’t any of your business, Hal.”
“I know,” he said. “This isn’t me trying to tell you what to do.”
“It sure sounds like it is,” she said.
“It’s coming from a place of worry,” he said. “We’re friends, and I’m worried something bad will happen to you.”
“Friends? We haven’t been friends for a long time,” Savina said. “Unless your idea of friendship is refusing to spend time with me.”
That stung like hell, but he didn’t try to defend himself or argue. “I’m still worried about you. Getting drunk on dates with men you don’t know is dangerous.”
“You know why I’m doing it,” she said.
“That doesn’t make it a good idea.”
“I don’t care that you’re judging me, you know.” Her pretty eyes flashed with anger, and her defiant look made him want to kiss her.
“I’m not judging you,” he said. “I’m sorry that I’m coming across as judgmental. But I won’t apologize for asking you not to get drunk to sleep with someone.”
“Yeah, well, it’s the only way it’s going to happen, so while I appreciate your concern, I’m willing to take the risk.”
“You don’t have to have sex right now, Savina,” Hal said. “You could wait until you don’t have to be drunk.”
