“I booked the venue. It’ll be the week before Christmas.”
“That’s good. Lots of people will be looking to surprise their loved ones with a new puppy for the holidays.”
“That’s what I’m hoping for.” She pauses for a moment, her eyes searching the ceiling. “Do you think they’ll all get adopted?”
“I don’t know. But we’ll make sure everyone knows about the event.”
“We?” Her eyes flick to mine.
“Yeah. The guys at the station and I can leave flyers around the neighborhood. That should help spread the word.”
The corners of her lips turn downward.
“What’s wrong?”
She sighs. “I just… I can’t figure you out.”
“What do you mean?”
“You keep helping me, and I don’t know why.”
“Is it so strange for someone to want to help a person who needs it?”
“It is for me.”
My stomach sours at the thought of Phoenix being all alone at a time when she needed someone the most and having no one. “Remember what I said last night? I’ve got your six now. And so does Leo—even if I’m going to have to rip him a new asshole for taking you to the fight.”
She chuckles and then coughs, gripping her ribs.
I scrub the bloodstains from her face and run the cloth over her neck and chest.
Her voice echoes off the tile. “Can I ask you something?”
“Shoot.”
“Why did you text me last night?”
My hand freezes with the washcloth on her shoulder. “Uh, I couldn’t sleep.”
She hums. “It was pretty late. My friend thinks you were looking for a booty call.”
My chin jerks back. “What?”
“Don’t look so disgusted. I told him you’re not into me like that.”
“I’m not disgusted. I…” Surprise wraps itself around my throat. “I don’t do booty calls. Did I say something to make you think that’s what I was insinuating?”
“No.”
“I know it was late.” I try to think of a plausible reason to give her, but her friend is right. Itwaslate. And I can’t lie to her. I pinch the bridge of my nose, and blurt out, “I saw you crying through your window, and I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Her eyebrows knit together. “You were looking through my window?”
I let out a frustrated sigh. “Our bedrooms face each other. I was about to go to sleep, and I glanced up and saw you. You looked upset.”
Her eyes narrow. “What else have you seen through my window?”
“Nothing.” I squeeze her hand under the water. “I promise, I’m not some Peeping Tom. If I saw you were getting undressed, I’d have looked away.”