Part 54 (1/2)
”I hate that look.” In solidarity, Maureen bit into her own brownie. ”It's superior, fake and infuriating.”
”If she thinks I'm lying, maybe the police do, too. That worries me a lot more.”
”They've got no reason to think you're lying.”
”I'm sleeping with him.”
”You weren't when this happened.”
”I am now.” She took another bite of brownie before dealing with the tea. ”I like sleeping with him.”
”I suspected that was why you're doing so much of it.”
”He's good in bed.”
”You're bordering on bragging, but under the circ.u.mstances, continue.”
With a half laugh, Abra moved her vase of baby iris from the center of her kitchen table to the stone-colored counter, then set down the teacups. ”It's really great s.e.x.”
”Unsubstantiated. Provide an example.”
”We moved the bed.”
”People often move beds, couches, tables. It's called rearranging the furniture.”
”While we were in it, having s.e.x.”
”That can happen.”
Abra shook her head, got up for a pen. ”Here's the bed,” she said as she sketched. ”Against this wall-the first time we had s.e.x. And when we finished having s.e.x, the bed was over here.” She drew a line, curved it, sketched in the bed. ”From there, to there, and turned sideways.”
Munching brownie, Maureen studied the napkin. ”You're making that up.”
With a grin, Abra swiped a finger over her heart.
”Is it on wheels?”
”No, it's not on wheels. The power of repressed s.e.xual energy unleashed is an awesome thing.”
”Now I'm jealous, but I can flip that by knowing, without doubt, Heather has never moved the bed.”
”I'll tell you what really p.i.s.sed me off. Her acting like I'm as reckless as one of those women who write to serial killers in prison. The ones who fall in love with some guy who strangled six women with shoelaces. I don't know how Eli deals with it, I swear, how he deals with that cloud of suspicion constantly over his head.”
”It must be easier for him now, having you.”
”I hope so.” Abra breathed again. ”I hope so. I have feelings for him.”
”Are you in love with him?” Abruptly concerned, Maureen licked chocolate from her thumb. ”It's only been a few weeks, Abra.”