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cute.”
    That made him laugh, but the good natured expression faded to something darker. “I’m dying,” he said as if he were honor-bound to tell me.
    “I know,” I said. “The neighbors told me.” I pushed his hand to my still pounding heart. It was Lanie who wanted him to feel that feeling of pumping blood and vibrancy. “I’m sorry,” she said with my mouth. “But I promise you, it will be okay.”

Chapter Six
     
    We sat there waiting while his friend Al showed up and Elijah went to explain the deal. They shook hands, and he got in the truck. He gripped the wheel and blew out a sigh. “Look, this is going to sound insane. More insane than what just happened, but you cannot stay here until that’s cleared up. And even if he clears it today, you want the chemicals to clear. And…”
    He shook his head. I felt Lanie smile, and I put my hand on his arm. “What?”
    “Why don’t you come home with me? Stay for a night or two. If you need to. And—” He cut himself off with a sharp bark of laughter. “I sound crazy, don’t I?”
    “No.”
    “I mean, I just told you I’m dying. After we had sex. In my truck. On the road.”
    I smiled, and in me Lanie laughed. “I know.”
    “Worst pick-up line ever,” he said. “Hey, I’m dying, come home with me.”
    “I will.”
    He turned in his seat and grabbed my hands, holding them. “Listen, I don’t really do this ever. Ever! But you remind me so much of her, and that is also the worst pick up line ever. I should lust after you for you. And I do,” he sighed. “But there is that familiarity. You know?”
    I nodded.
    “And I am very confused by myself, even.”
    I smiled. “Look, take me home. I’ve got a lot to explain if you’re willing to listen.”
    “Of course,” he said.
    “What were you doing here, anyway?”
    He put the truck in gear, watching the road and not me. “I had the worst dreams. Lanie falling, someone I couldn’t see getting hurt. There was this droning, and I felt like I was getting stabbed with pins. Only it wasn’t me, if that makes sense. So I was up, I figured I’d check in with you to see if you’d found any floor areas you were worried about.” I saw him blush. “And you know…you’re pretty, Juliet. It’s been forever and a day for me, I thought before I die I might take a pretty woman to coffee. If she were interested.”
    Again I worried about Lanie’s feelings, but there was nothing but a sense of peace in me. She wanted to be with him, but I found myself feeling the same. It might all end when I came clean with him and told him what was going on.
    “Would you settle on making me coffee? I am in my nightgown, after all.”
    He put his hand on my thigh and squeezed. “Of course.”
    I realized I liked the feel of his hand on my skin.
    * * * *
    He took me home, made me a cup of coffee and I sat, curled up in his kitchen. The kitchen table was insane—I loved it. One side was a booth built in to the wall, the table stood between, the other side sported two chrome and patent leather chairs.
    “Lanie loved it, too,” he said, reading my face. “It’s part of why we chose this house.”
    “Your loss is still palpable,” I said, feeling my heart rate pick up as Lanie’s sadness increased. I touched his hand, and he turned his hand in mine, palm up, fingers curling around mine.
    “I still miss her. I even feel sort of guilty about today.” He shook his head at himself, his dark blond hair brushing his eyebrows.
    “Don’t,” I cleared my throat. “I have something to confess, if you’re willing to listen and be open-minded.”
    Inside of me, Lanie twisted and squirmed. I was flooded with her fear and insecurity. She wasn’t sure he’d buy it. She didn’t want him upset. She pushed forward, overshadowing the bit of me that was in control. “But first,” I heard myself say, “Just another kiss.”
    She sprawled my body over the white Formica table and pushed my fingers into his hair. I tugged