“We wait and hope Donna pulls through on her promise.”
Fearing the mention of her name would spiral us back into the whole jealousy conversation, I spun, dislodging Tallus from my neck but grabbing his hands before he moved away.
“Come here.”
Tallus stood between my thighs, expression oddly shy. “Hey.”
“Hey. Would a kiss help?”
He nodded.
I snagged a handful of his shirt and pulled him to my level, connecting our mouths, doing what I could to express the intangible feelings of love I carried everywhere I went. I might never be able to explain these emotions out loud—not concisely—but I would spend the rest of my days trying to get my point across.
“I love you,” I whispered across his kiss-bruised lips.
“I love you.”
“Forever, okay?”
“I know, D.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
Since there wasn’t anything more to be done with regards to the case, Tallus dragged his chair back to the reception area to return phone calls and respond to emails.
Echo awoke with his relocation and tottered over for ear scratches. It was nearly noon, so on the premise of grabbing lunch, I attached Echo’s leash, and we headed out into the dreary city. The rain had eased to a misty drizzle. I didn’t know where I was going or what I felt like eating, but instead of taking the Jeep, I pulled my fedora low to protect my face and walked.
Echo needed exercise, and I needed a cigarette.
The dampness in the air chilled me to the bone, despite my trench coat. I kept my head down as we dodged puddles and weaved along the sodden city streets in search of something Tallus might enjoy for lunch. He was easy to please when it came to food. Coffee was a given. He limited himself to two cups a day due to migraines, but apart from the morning latte I’d bought him on our way to Evergreen, he hadn’t had another. His caffeine levels would reach the danger zone if I didn’ttop him up soon. The spark of joy and giddiness he got upon seeing a steaming mug of coffee always made me fall in love with him all over again, so I went out of my way to deliver those small pleasures every chance I got.
And peanut butter cookies. Always peanut butter cookies.
Food and coffee were necessary, but they were an excuse to get out of the building. I had other intentions on that blustery March day, and it took three blocks and two cigarettes to gather enough courage for what I planned, which was about three cigarettes and four blocks less than I anticipated, so go me. Small wins were worth celebrating.
Then again, it might have been the weather. The longer I was out, the more desperate I was to return to a heated building and Tallus.
I found a storefront with a scant awning, a front window, and a dry ledge wide enough to accommodate my ass. I sat and pulled out my phone. My heart rate instantly kicked up a notch, and despite the chill in my bones, my palms sweated.
When I did nothing more than stare at the device, Echo licked my fingers and chuffed. She’d been in my life for a year, and I sometimes wondered if she could read my thoughts and understand the turmoil that swirled inside my chest day in and day out. I gave her a voice and dialogue inside my head, even if it was stupid.
At that moment, she was telling me to do it already.
“I’m getting there. Gotta work up the nerve.”
Another chuff.
“I know it’s cold and wet, but… this is hard.”
She whined and shuffled to stand between my thighs, much like Tallus had done earlier.
“Okay. I hear you.”
I located Aslan Doyle’s name in my contact list and went over the words I’d practiced since my conversation with Ruiz. I’d programmedthe number after our brief meeting the previous day, afraid that if I didn’t, I would go home and lose the paper. On purpose.
Ruiz had warned Doyle, so I knew the detective would be expecting my call sooner or later. I didn’t want to put it off indefinitely, or he might think I wasn’t serious. Until that moment, I’d had no clue that Aslan Doyle was an alcoholic. Why would I know? It wasn’t like we were friends.