Page 101 of Harder Betrayal

“Why?”

“She said she loved him.”

“Oh.”

“I tried to talk some sense into him, but it didn’t work. Maybe you’ll have better luck.”

“He listens to you more than he listens to me.”

“I think he values your opinion a lot more than you realize…”

* * *

Grave was already at the bar when I arrived.

He seemed to be on his second or third drink.

“Bad day?” I sat on the stool beside him.

“You could say that.”

I tapped my fingers on the surface and ordered a round. “What happened?”

“Good old-fashioned bullshit.”

“I heard about Elise.”

When he got another glass, he downed it quickly. “Guess that means you’re spending time with Camille.”

“I slept over the other night.”

“Good for you.”

“It’s not that good. She wants to take it slow.”

He turned to look at me. “You should be grateful she wants to take anything at all with you.”

“Trust me, I am. And I know what you’re doing.”

His stare deepened.

“Deflecting me from Elise.”

He hit his glass on the table. “You want to talk about it? Fine. Let’s talk about it.”

“For starters, you look like shit.”

“Your face is about to look like shit if you keep it up.”

“You look miserable.”

“That’s just how my face looks.”

“No, it’s not. It doesn’t have to be this way.”

He finished his glass then ordered another. “I’m guessing Camille gave you the rundown.”

“Yeah.”