Page 31 of The Enemy Plot

The light in the staircase might be dim, but I’m pretty sure she can see my face reddening. “It was not. We were just talking.”

“Um, tell that to the blush on your cheeks, honey. You were totally flirting with him, andhewas flirting back,” she says before continuing toward the top of the staircase.

This time, I’m the one who stops her. “Wait, you really think so?”

“The only way it would have been more obvious that he’s into you is if he’d grabbed you by the collar of your shirt and kissed you right there in the street.”

“Oh.”

“And judging by the look on your face,” she adds with a chuckle, “I’m guessing you wouldn’t have said no.”

Another wave of warmth spreads on my cheeks, because she’s absolutely right.

13

Another Favor

Deacon

“How are you today, Deacon?” Dr. S. asks once we’re both seated and his notebook is out.

I take a few seconds to consider his question. “I feel good. Lola and I had a nice time yesterday, she doesn’t seem to hate me as much, business at the bar is booming, and my relationship with my neighbor is improving.” I even chuckled yesterday. Since when do I chuckle?

He flashes a bright smile. “I’m so happy to hear that. It shows, too. You seem more relaxed.”

Ifeelmore relaxed. For the first time in ages, I slept like a baby.

“Tell me about you and Lola. What happened that brought you a step in the right direction?”

“It was her birthday, and I let her go to a concert with her friends.”

He quirks an eyebrow. “By herself?”

“No! Of course not. She went with my neighbors.”

“Ah, yes, the bookstore owners. You told me about one of them before. Alice, was it? The one who’s friends with Lola.”

“Yes, that’s her. She helped us out with a few things—girl problems, French homework. And she spent time with Lola.”

“I’m glad that you have some support. Raising a teenager isn’t an easy task.”

Tell me about it. I’m winging it one hundred percent of the time. “So, yeah. Lola was happy about that, and when she came back, she even gave me a hug. The first one since she started living with me. After that, we spent some time together. She blew out a candle on a muffin, and I gave her the books I bought for her birthday, and a phone.”

“A phone,” he says, his tone laced with surprise.

“Yup.” I sigh, still not sure I made the right decision. “I think she’s old—and mature—enough to have a phone. And that way I can reach her at all times.”

“Good. I’m delighted you had a nice time together, and that you’re starting to trust her more.”

“It’s all thanks to Alice.”

He gives me a pointed look. “You’reresponsible for all this joy, Deacon. I know you tend to think you only bring negativity, but this was all you. You’re the one who let Lola go to this concert, the one who spent time with her afterward, and the one she hugged.”

I rake a hand through my hair. “Sure, but only because Alice and Emma took her to the concert, and because Alice told me to spend time with Lola before she went to bed.”

His brow furrows. “You wouldn’t have otherwise?”

“Yes, I would have,” I admit. I had to give her the gifts I’d bought, after all. And she was so happy, I wanted to bask in that. Especially after that hug. When Lola embraced me, it was as if every single one of my insecurities disappeared at once. Like she was telling me she loved me, and that she had hope for our future. Never before would I have imagined a hug could be so powerful.