Page 203 of ClickBack

“Then don’t.”

When she gets up, I step into the kitchen and let Cam know what happened before there’s a chance he hears another version. He asks about injuries and witnesses, then whether I expect more trouble. I tell him the truth about all of it. He tells me to let him know if Byron reaches out.

When I return, Giselle is looking at the clock.

“What time is the car coming?”

“We have a little over an hour.”

“Why are we sitting here?”

“You were having a moment.”

“I can have a moment and moisturize. Move.”

She stands and heads for the stairs, then turns back.

“Downstairs bathroom. I need mine.”

“You still want to go?”

“I bought a dress. You made a reservation. Byron has had enough of my Saturday.”

I get up.

An hour later, she stops three steps from the bottom of the stairs. It’s the red dress from San Antonio. I have been waiting to see it since she came back to Jawn with the bag, and she knows that.

“Well?” she asks.

“Turn around.”

She does. Slowly enough to make her point.

“We’re going to New York,” she reminds me.

“I’m looking at New York’s problem.”

She comes down the last three steps. I take her hand, kiss her without disturbing her lipstick, and let her go before she has to tell me to.

At the door, she looks through the glass at the porch.

“I liked that chair.”

“It’s fine.”

“It better be. They don’t sell them separately.”

I look at her. She holds out her hand, and I take it, laughing as we walk to the car.

Chapter 35

Giselle

We keep the reservation in New York. I wear the red dress and order something I cannot pronounce without pointing. Jarrett orders it correctly, then admits he practiced before we left because he knew I would ask what it was.

I laugh so hard at his pronunciation demonstration that the waiter comes back to check on us. Jarrett orders dessert when I’m still deciding, then adds the one I wanted too.

On the ride home, I turn toward him. “I’m glad you were there today.”