Page 11 of Static

"Of all the analogies in the world, and that's what you come up with?" Seek asked, looking incredulous.

"Sorry," Dani said, there was a sheepish look on her face as she rubbed her belly. She was almost nine months pregnant and looked adorable as she waddled around. Not that I'd ever tell her she waddled. "I guess I'm hungry. Damn now I want a pretzel. One of those huge soft ones? With mayo."

"Okay, well that's disgusting," Jordan said.

"What Dani is trying to say," Sloane said, taking over, "is that Static likes you."

"Of course he does," I replied. "There's no reason for him not to-"

Jordan sighed. "Sweetie. Try to keep up. He likes you and wants to stick his parts inside you. That kind of 'likes' you."

I glanced over at the kids, who were still completely involved with the show and not listening, then shot her a dark look. "Language. And no...no he doesn't." I wasn't going to lie to myself. Her words brought up a visual that was anything but gross despite the way she phrased that. I couldn't stop my brain from conjuring up the image of Static and I naked, his body pressed against mine, and his tongue stroking against my skin.

"Why are you blushing?" Daisha teased.

"I don't think he's interested in me like that," I denied, ignoring Daisha.

"Why?" Eva asked. "I know I'm new here, but even I know he watches you when you're not looking."

"He does?" I asked. Shaking my head, I tried to contain the hope that was rising up. Just because I liked him—not that I planned to do anything about it—didn't mean he felt the same. And even if he did. I couldn't date anyone right now. I was a mess.

"Like he's a fat kid and you're the last piece of chocolate cake," Dani said in a gleeful tone. Her smile turned to a pout when everyone looked at her in amusement. "Fine. I'll stop."

"You're making me hungry," Susie complained.

"Welcome to my life," Dani sighed.

"And I don't even need to ask you how you feel about Static," Jordan said. She rolled her eyes when I gave her a curious glance. "You're my best friend. I know when you like a boy." She said it as though we were kids in a school yard, not like I was twenty-nine years old with two children of my own.

"It doesn't matter," I sighed. "I have too many things to focus on right now." My heart sank a little in my chest. "I can't put all this on Static."

"I think he'd like it if you put all that on him," Seek said with a laugh.

The joke eased the tension.

"Gwen-"

I cut Jordan off. "Can we please talk about something else?"

"Sure," Kit said, a mischievous glint lighting up her eyes. "How about we talk about your cop?"

I groaned. "He's not my cop."

"Do you want him texting you?" Dani asked.

Opening my mouth, I hesitated before answering. "I don't know. I'm not interested in dating anyone right now."

"Why?" Sloane asked softly.

There they were, watching me like I was a little sheep in the lion's den. There was knowledge on their faces. Did they know? Did they somehow figure out that I was trying to hide the pain and fear I'd been living in since Trent attacked me?

"Honey," Sloane said, catching my attention, "we know."

Is she a mind reader?

"Yeah," Seek said, giving me a soft smile.

"And if anyone would understand what you're going through, it's us," Sloane added. "You can talk to us whenever you're ready."