Page 39 of Silken Chains
I groan, burying my face in my hands. “I’m a mess, Ser. My store’s gone, Dad and the landlord are on my butt, and now this…”
She wraps an arm around my shoulder.
“You’re not a mess; you’re just… well, human. And honestly, your guy radar could use a serious upgrade. It’s like you’ve got a magnet for the ‘bad luck’ type.”
I let out a snort. “Wow, Ser, with pep talks like that, who needs enemies?” I can’t help but chuckle despite the chaos in my life. Serena always has a way of making light of even the darkest situations.
“But hey, at least you finally got laid after, what, a geological era?”
I grimace. “Eight months and twenty days, to be exact, long before David pulled his vanishing act. But who’s counting.”
“To be honest, I’ve always felt something was off with David…like a closed book.”
I nod, feeling a surge of bitterness. “More like a book in a language I can’t read. Always secretive, always distant.”
“God, Ser, what if there was more to David? What if…?”
“What? You think he was into something shady?” Serena’s eyes narrow, a detective-like glint in them. “Like what, already married with a family? Or smuggling diamonds?”
My stomach twists.
“I don’t know about the smuggling diamonds… but now that I think about it, he did have a lot of ‘business trips’ that never added up.” A chill runs through me as I recall that night. David, his face unreadable, lugging in a heavy suitcase, claiming it was just work stuff. But the way he avoided my eyes…
Serena grabs a cushion, hugging it to her chest. “Lulu, this is like something out of a crime novel. You think you were living with a criminal?”
My heart races, the pieces starting to fit together in a terrifying puzzle. Those late-night calls he whispered into, the strange friends who never stayed long.
“I-I just don’t know, Ser. But…”
“Okay, let’s not jump to conclusions.” Serena reaches over, her hand gently squeezing mine. She locks eyes with me, an eyebrow raised in anticipation. “But seriously, Lulu, I’m dying to know about what happened to you last night! Was he at least hotter than a summer in the Sahara?”
No matter how grim things seem, Serena’s got a gift for making everything feel a bit brighter and more bearable.
I sigh. “Hot doesn’t even begin to cover it. But it was just a one-time thing. No strings attached.”
Serena raises an eyebrow. “Famous last words. Watch, this will turn into a Stockholm Syndrome love story.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, right. More like a cautionary tale.”
“Come on, spill! Was he like one of those tall, dark, and handsome mysteries we fantasize about in our book club?”
I let out a laugh. “Exactly. But he’s so out of my league, it’s not even funny.” The thought of his commanding shoulders, firm chest, his towering form, and those comforting hands flood my mind. I jerk my head as if to physically cast away these thoughts.
Suddenly, my phone buzzes, jolting me. I glance at the screen; it’s the insurance company calling.
“Great,” I mutter under my breath, feeling a knot of anxiety. “It’s about the bookstore.”
Serena looks at me, worry etching her face. “Do you want me to stick around while you take that?”
I stand up, shaking my head. “No, I should handle this. Thanks, though, Ser. Really.”
She gives me a quick hug and heads out. Just before the door shuts, Serena sends a playful air kiss my way.
“Love you,” she whispers.
I catch it with a forced smile. “Love you too.” I feel my anxiety creep up.
I close my eyes briefly, inhaling deeply, trying to calm the rapid breathing and the flutter in my chest. With a shaky hand, I finally tap “answer” on my phone, biting my lip nervously.
