“Broke the rules?”
“I asked her not to touch me. I warned her. But she really doesn’t give a shit about anyone other than herself. A-and you. She cares a lot about you. She’s…in love with you.”
“Phoebe?” Faye snorted. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“It seemed ridiculous at first, but then it all started to make sense in my head. And she basically admitted it, so it doesn’t really matter what I think about it all. She’s in love with you, Faye.”
“N-no. She can’t be.”
“Why not? You’re every woman’s dream.”
Faye shifted back. “Just not yours.”
“Oh, babe. Believe me, I don’t want to end things with you. I want to keep waking up with you in my arms and doing stupid shit together. I want to not dress all day when we have our weekend together on a Tuesday afternoon. And I want to keep cooking dinner with you,for you, while I watch you work across the room. It’s all I want to do.”
“Then stay. Don’t do this.”
Talia lowered her eyes as she whispered, “She kissed me, Faye. Your best friend…kissed me.”
Anger flared in the pit of Faye’s stomach, the mere thought of Phoebe in that room at all sending wave after wave of turmoil through her. “Of course she did.”
“What?” Talia’s forehead creased.
“She’s been intent on riling me up at any opportunity. And then she made that comment in the bistro last month—”
“What comment?”
“About how there was nothing I could do if she paid for you. How she could do it whenever she wanted to.”
“Jesus, Faye. You could have told me. Warned me.”
“I didn’t think she’d actually do anything.” And that was the complete truth. To know that Phoebe had pushed this as far as she possibly could… No, she never thought she’d do this. Faye lowered her head to her hands. “I’m so sorry.”
“You couldn’t have known, Faye.” Talia placed a soothing hand to Faye’s shoulder, not understanding why Faye felt responsible in some way. Neither of them could have known Phoebe would cross the line.
“Did she hurt you?”
“No. But she has been blacklisted from the club.”
“Well, that’s something, I guess.” Faye pulled Talia’s hands into her lap. “Please, don’t end this.”
“You’re not mad?”
“With her, I’m seething. But with you, no. How could I be mad at you for this? I know you wouldn’t do a single thing to hurt me. I know that you only see me. And I trust you completely, Talia.”
Talia brushed a tear from her jaw. “Nobody has ever said anything like that to me before.”
“You should know by now that I wouldn’t decide anything rash. I don’t have it in me to do something like that.”
“Faye…” Talia looked up into Faye’s eyes, swallowing.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for defending me to Jenna. I don’t think she meant any harm by coming here, but still…thank you. It means a lot.”
“I’ll always defend you.” Faye whispered against Talia’s hair as she pulled her against her. “I meant everything I said. Don’t ever forget that.”
“I just feel a bit overwhelmed by it all.”