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“Seems like Grayson can’t let it go,” Winston said. “After a month you’d think he’d have accepted your choice.”
“What are you getting at?”
“You dumped him and he doesn’t seem too happy about that.”
“People usually aren’t happy when you dump them, Winston.” Dee crossed her leg and bounced her foot. “You’re not suggesting Grayson created that profile, are you?”
“Is it that farfetched? Ever heard of revenge porn? Dee, this is the world now. When couples break up, then it’s not unusual for people to turn to Internet retaliation.”
“Grayson wouldn’t do anything like this no matter how mad he is. It’s not his style.”
“He’s a desperate man.” Winston rocked in the chair. “His career has been in shambles since he was suspected of his ex-wife’s murder. He hasn’t had a book deal in ages and the one he self-published flopped like a stone. His agent dumped him and the press makes fun of him more than they do Lindsay Lohan. The man’s gone from being one of the biggest mystery writers of our time to a laughingstock. Then he loses you. Dee...” He leaned forward, clasping his hands. “Some men crack after experiencing much less than what Grayson has.”
“No.” She stared at the women on the screen. “Grayson wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize my career or reputation.”
“People change.” Winston shrugged. “Or maybe Grayson isn’t the man you thought he was. You have to at least talk to him about it.”
“Jesus.” Dee propped her elbows on the table and laid her head in her palms. “It can’t be Grayson. That would crush me.”
“You gonna ask him?”
She nodded. “Tomorrow.”
“I’m coming too.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m your friend.” He clicked his jaw. “That’s what friends do.”
****
Lisa jumped and waved her hands after winning another bowling match. “Who’s the best?” She shot invisible bullets from her invisible gun. “Me!”
Jake checked the score sheet on his iPad. “Now I’m gonna hear this for the rest of my life.”
Rayne laughed but Jake noticed how distant Guy seemed.
“I’m ready for some nachos.” Jake moved his wheelchair from the table. “Lisa, why don’t you and Rayne get the food?” He handed Lisa money.
Guy and Jake told her what nachos they wanted and she and Rayne went on their way.
“What’s up?” Jake examined Guy’s strange demeanor. “You were having the time of your life an hour ago and now you look like someone killed your dog.”
Guy glanced toward the food counter then slipped one hand into the pocket of his jeans.
“What do you think?” Jake nudged him with his wheelchair. “Rayne’s hot, huh?”
“She’s amazing.” Guy’s short, chocolate-brown hair sat in thick waves. “She’s even prettier than you said she was. On a scale of one to ten she’s a hundred. Great personality too though she seems a little shy.”
“What are you waiting for, dog? Ask her out.”
“I would if she was here for me but that’s not the case.” Guy sat at the table and folded his arms. “She came here for you.”
Jake scooted up to the table. “Come again?”
“She wants you, dude. Don’t tell me you can’t see it.”
“First Lisa and now you?”
“Jake, she hangs on your every word. She looks like a lovesick teenager when you speak to her.”
“No, she doesn’t.” He bowed his head.
“Maybe you’re enjoying it.”
“That’s ridiculous. I invited her out so she could get to know people. Lisa is the only woman I want.”
“Does Rayne know that?” Guy pointed to her over his shoulder. “She doesn’t act like it. When we were alone, all she talked about was you. She was asking questions like she’s in the CIA or some shit.”
“She was?” Jake glanced at Lisa and Rayne as they waited in line.
“Yeah. She was asking about you and Lisa. She even asked where your AA meetings are.”
Jake rubbed his mouth, anxiety brewing in his stomach.
“I got a funny feeling about her.” Guy propped his feet up in the chair beside him. “That’s all.”
****
“Here you go, ladies.” The man behind the counter handed Lisa a tray with four plates of nachos.
“Whoa.” Lisa wobbled, struggling with the tray. “This looks like enough to feed a village.”
“Let me help.” Rayne took two plates off the tray. “You gonna call the boys over?”
“Eh, they look like they’re having a heavy conversation. They’ll come when they get ready.”
“Okay.”
Lisa and Rayne sat at one of the square tables where they could see the bowling lanes.
“These nachos look scandalous.” Rayne set her plate in front of her and dug a chip from a mound of cheese and meat. “I shouldn’t be doing this.” She bit into the chip. “Wow.”
“Yeah, they have the best nachos.” Lisa faked a smile. “We forgot drinks. What do you want?”
“I’ll take a lemonade if they have it.”
“I’ll be right back.” Lisa went to the drink machine. “Fake ass Barbie.” She got them both lemonades with tons of crushed ice and returned to the table as Rayne chowed down on nachos. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” Rayne licked cheese from her lips.
Lisa bit into a chip, salt and cheese combing in her mouth. “So, you from Baltimore?”
“Annapolis actually. You from Baltimore?”
“Yep.” Lisa bit into another chip that oozed with beef, cheese and sour cream. “Your family is in Annapolis?”
“Yeah, uh...” Rayne wiped her mouth with a napkin.
“Jake says you’re estranged from your family or something? What happened?”
“I don’t like to talk about my family.”
“How long have you been working at Therapeutic Massage?”
Rayne took a chip from underneath the pile of nachos. “A year.”
“What were you doing before that?”
“Funny I thought I was eating with Lisa and not Detective Swanson.”
“I’m always Detective Swanson.” Lisa chomped a chip.
“I’m a private person.” Rayne stuck her straw in her drink. “I’m sure you can understand that.”
“Yeah but you’ve been asking Jake things about me and him.”
“You mean when he made me lunch after our session?”
Lisa clenched a chip. “He made you lunch?”
“You know that, Detective?” Rayne played with her straw. “He made me a delicious Greek salad with chicken. Said he used a recipe from the cookbook I gave him.”
“Is that right?” Lisa wiped cheese off her fingers.
“It was the best salad I’d ever eaten,” Rayne purred. “You’re a very lucky woman, Lisa. A lot of women would kill to have a man like Jake.”
Lisa flexed her fingers. “A lot of women would kill to keep him too.”
Rayne snickered. “I bet.”
“I’m not stupid, Rayne. If you’re trying to make a move on my man, I suggest you stop right now.”
“You seem threatened by me, Detective.” Rayne got another chip. “If he really were your man why would you be?”
“He is my man.” Lisa pressed her palms to the table. “Do you understand me?”
“Looks like Jake’s plan is backfiring.” Rayne set down her half-eaten chip. “We’re not getting along.”
“I’m cool.” Lisa sat back with her hands up. “As long as you get my point. When it comes to Jake I don’t play.”
Rayne lifted her drink and smiled. “Got it.”