Page 39 of I Am Sin
“Just do your best, Diana.”
“I always do.” I open the nearest drawer. “Do you have cookie cutters?”
Teddy scratches her chin. “I have a few, but they’re all Christmas themed.” She opens a drawer next to the one I was looking through. In it are several cookie cutters. A tree, a gingerbread man, a candy cane… All seasonally inappropriate options.
I pick up one of the cookie cutters, this one shaped like a Santa hat. “Too bad you don’t have any Halloween ones. A pumpkin would be perfect for today. But no worries. I just need a paring knife, a sharp one.”
“Okay, sure.” A few minutes later, Teddy hands me a paring knife.
I start to cut into the brie when— “I guess I should have asked. Do you have jam or jelly?”
Teddy frowns. “Oh… I don’t.” She darts her gaze around the kitchen. “But I do have some honey. It’s fresh. I just bought it a few days ago.”
Honey and brie. That sounds really good. “Yeah, let’s try the honey.”
With the paring knife, I carefully carve a pumpkin shape that turns out to look more like a big cherry, but what the hell? Then I carefully remove the rind from the cutout and drizzle the honey into the indentation.
“This should taste really good,” I say to Teddy, “and it actually looks cute, but it looks a lot better with a darker jam or jelly. You know, to contrast with the white rind.”
Teddy’s eyes are wide. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a charcuterie tray look better, Dee. Thanks for your help.”
“Not a problem.” I shrug. “It’s kind of fun to do. Lets me flex my creative muscles in a different way.”
“Well, you’re a genius at it.” Teddy picks up the tray. “Hey, everyone, look at this amazing piece of art that Diana and I put together.”
Like vultures, the guests descend on the tray, filling up their plates.
“Hey.” Teddy’s friend Tracy grabs my arm.
“Yeah?”
Tracy takes another sip of her beer. “Where did your friend go off to?”
“Who? Teddy?”
“No, that guy you brought with you.”
“Oh, Dragon…” I cast my gaze around the room. “I don’t see him. He’s probably in the bathroom.”
Tracy scratches her arm. “He’s not. I just checked.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You checked the bathroom for a guy?”
“Well, yeah.” Tracy’s cheeks turn pink. “But no one was in there. I can’t find him anywhere.”
I look around Teddy’s loft. She only has the one bedroom and bathroom. Plus this big open living area and kitchen.
“Is he seeing anyone?” Tracy continues.
“Uh…” I keep darting my gaze around. “What?”
“Your friend,” Tracy says. “Is he seeing anyone?”
I swallow. “Not that I know of.”
“And the two of you aren’t…”
Warmth surges over my cheeks. “Oh, no. Not at all. We’re just roommates. He’s a friend of my brother-in-law’s, and I’m letting him stay at my place. That’s all.”