Two of a Kind (Fool's Gold #11)(14)
“I’m leaving town in March,” Isabel said. “This is a bad time for a relationship. I refuse to fall for some guy and then have to decide between him and my career. It’s not going to happen.”
Noelle shrugged. “Sorry, but I’m getting over a bad breakup.”
Patience pressed her lips together. “You’re sure you don’t find Ford or Angel attractive?”
“They’re very sexy, but not my type.”
Patience turned to Felicia. “What about you? You like both Ford and Angel.”
“Kind of how I like Justice,” she said. “Biologically speaking, humans aren’t generally attracted to family members. It keeps the gene pool healthier if we’re not.”
“I’m very disappointed,” Patience told them. “You’re all letting me down.”
Felicia knew her friend was just kidding, but she still felt guilty. An odd phenomenon and not one she was comfortable with.
“I slept with Gideon,” she blurted, unable to stop the words.
All three of them turned to stare at her.
Isabel raised her eyebrows. “It’s always the quiet types. Have you noticed that?”
“Gideon?” Noelle asked. “Radio Gideon of the dreamy voice? OMG, I love listening to him.”
Patience stared at Noelle. “You didn’t just say OMG.”
Noelle laughed. “Sorry. I love to read teen fiction. It’s a flaw, but one I can live with.”
Isabel leaned toward the center of the table. “Patience, honey? You’re missing the point. Felicia had sex with the mysterious Gideon.”
Patience turned to Felicia. “How did that happen?”
“In the usual way. We were outside on his deck and...” Felicia stopped and cleared her throat. The three of them were staring at her with identical expressions of confusion.
“You mean you’re curious about the order of events that led up to our encounter. Not where and in what position.”
Isabel leaned back in her chair. “You know, I’m going to have to think about that. No one has ever given me a choice like that before.”
Noelle patted Felicia’s arm. “You’re one of my favorite people, you know that?”
“Because I’m a freak?”
“You’re not a freak. You’re honest. There aren’t enough honest people in the world. How do you know Gideon? You must know him because I can’t see you jumping into bed with a perfect stranger.”
A lovely assessment of her character, Felicia thought, however false. Because that’s exactly what she’d done. Twice.
“We met four years ago, in Thailand. It was a brief, um, encounter. When I got here, I heard him on the radio and realized it was the same man. I didn’t know what to think or do, so I’ve been avoiding him for the past couple of months.”
A plan that had been going really well, until spiders had worked their arachnid mojo and changed everything. Although she couldn’t really say she objected to the ultimate outcome.
“I wanted to talk to someone about the job offer,” she continued. “So last night I drove to his house to speak with him.”
“You drove to his house?” Patience repeated. “Just like that? You’re so brave. I wish I was like that. Direct and fearless. I overthink everything.”
Felicia thought about explaining why she’d picked Gideon, then stopped herself. It was possible her friends wouldn’t understand her reticence in speaking with them about the job.
“What’s his house like?” Noelle asked. “Is it fabulous? I bet it’s fabulous.”
“The part I saw was nice.”
“They did it on the deck,” Isabel said, reaching for her drink. “I’m guessing there wasn’t a tour.”
“Oh, right. The deck. That’s pretty hot.” Noelle smiled. “You two make a cute couple. Ooh, I wonder if he’s going to dedicate a song to you tonight. I’ll have to listen.”
“I’m sure he won’t,” Felicia said, knowing now she, too, would have to listen. Just in case.
Is that something a man would do after a night with a woman? She wasn’t clear on what normal people did in relationships. She might have slept with Gideon, but he was still a mystery to her. She’d had sex, but never love. A physical encounter but not a boyfriend. She hadn’t ever even been on a traditional date.
How was she supposed to find a man and fall in love when she couldn’t even get asked out on a date?
* * *
“GOOD EVENING, FOOL’S GOLD,” Gideon said into the microphone. “I’d like to start tonight with a favorite, for a friend of mine.” He pushed the button, and the Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There” began to play. He thought about mentioning the spiders but knew that would lead to questions, and he enjoyed his nights without the phone ringing to interrupt.
The red light on the wall flashed.
So much for a quiet night. Gideon walked to the front door. For a second he wondered if Felicia had come by, then decided if she wanted to see him again, she would be waiting at his house, not interrupting his work.
He opened the back door and found Angel standing on the steps, a six-pack in his hands.
“Hey,” he said, motioning for his friend to follow him back to his desk. “Tell me you’re not looking for a place to crash. Ford already claimed the back room here.”