Page 126 of Tasty Cherry

Arya looks up as I stomp past the sofa. I told her Mila and I had been outed today, although not the circumstances. “You all right?”

“Mila’s not responding.”

She leaps up and manages to beat me to the door. “Stop. Use your head. What was the last thing you two said to each other?”

“She asked to come over. I said absolutely.”

“When was that?”

“Around one.”

Arya frowns. “That’s hours ago.”

“I assumed she was working, but now she shouldn’t be.”

“I’m coming with you.”

“Why?”

“So you don’t do anything dumb!”

I lift her and set her aside. “I don’t do dumb things.”

“You do dumb things when women are involved!”

I don’t have time for this. I wrench the door open, but when I get my car unlocked, Arya is already in the passenger seat.

“Did you lock the front door?” I ask her.

“No.”

“You going to go do it?”

“No. You’ll drive off without me.”

She’s right.

“Sebastian, use your head. What if she’s upset? What if she needs a minute? What if she’s on her way here?”

I drop my head against the back of the seat. “What if Raya’s giving her hell and she needs someone on her side?”

“Should that be you?”

“Absolutely.”

“Well, go lock the door,” she says.

I look down at her bare feet. “Go get some shoes and lock the door. I won’t leave without you.”

She stares at me a moment. “I’m not sure I believe you.”

“I swear on my grave.”

“Swear on Alfalfa’s grave.”

Gah. She’s got me. “I swear on our puppy dog’s grave.”

She opens the door and gets out.