Page 4 (1/2)
Larissa was pretty sure it did, but that wasn’t why she was here
"I need to talk to you," she said instead
Taryn immediately pointed to the sofa in her office "Sure What’s up?"
Larissa sat in a corner of the coled toward her friend "It’s about what happened yesterday WithTaryn would juh and an "Of course no one believes you’re in love with Jack How ridiculous"
But Taryn was silent
Larissa drew in a breath "I don’t love hiether I like hiuy It’s just uess I want that, too Eventually"
Because froreat, but from the inside--at least what she’d observed with her parents--it sucked
She supposed that assessotten divorced, they’d both been reed Her parents liked to joke that they never should have gotten married And they wouldn’t have If there hadn’t been an unexpected pregnancy Nauy here in Fool’s Gold as in Los Angeles Probably eles There are a lot of unrealistic expectations ith the ether "Why aren’t you saying anything?"
"Because you’re doing fine without me," Taryn told her
"Do you think I’ and symbiotic relationship"
"That’s not an answer"
"Maybe, but it’s the truth Jack wants totoo involved You want to save the world, but you lack resources You have heart and Jack has reat team"
"Exactly," Larissa said quickly "We’re a team Not a couple We’re friends There’s love between friends, but it’s different It’s not romantic Like when I needed a tes to stay Jack let me use his house"
Taryn’s s in Jack’s house before telling him and they wouldn’t let him inside his own hoet mad at you?"
"You don’t have to put it like that," Larissa told her "But, yes, that would be an exah she wasn’t coood guy," Taryn said "He goes along hat you want because it allows hi involved You like that Jack is always there in the background to rescue you if you need it You get to take risks without actually putting yourself out there"
Larissa winced "I am not so excited about the total honesty part of this conversation" She wanted to disagree with her friend’s assessment, but didn’t think she could
Taryn touched her aroing on with Jack is co out of it, but the relationship also keeps each of you fro for more You know Jack’s a bad bet, so you are careful not to take things too far Which is smart But I wonder if what your h that you’re not interested in looking for so to her feet, crossed to the door, then stopped and turned back
"I’ in love"
Taryn raised her eyebrows
Larissa frowned "Not completely I just I’m not in love with Jack"
"Prove it Go fall in love with soetin a relationship? Don’t you want more than friendship? Don’t you want passion and sex and ro there’s so and he’ll be there, no matter what?"
Larissa nodded because it was the answer Taryn expected The truth was more complicated Yes, she wanted passion and sex and ro, she knew all four Score owners would be at her side in a heartbeat, with Jack leading the way Was that what Taryn was trying to say? That the reason Larissa hadn’t found the one was because she didn’t need to?
She doubted the truth was that simple
HUNAN PALACE WAS conveniently located in Larissa’s neighborhood The vegetables were fresh, the sauces delicious and Jack had to ad rolls he’d ever tasted As he wasn’t the kind of guy who cooked and Larissa was too busy saving the world to provide a ht dinner ht the food She provided the beer or wine It was nice Easy
As he crossed the street, he nodded at the people he knew, or at least recognized Fool’s Gold was that kind of town You were expected to get involved Hell, even Sa finance classes for small businesses a couple of ti, Jack thought Whichasked to help find a new coach wasn’the would enjoy Even though he couldn’t still play, the love of the gaone away
He reached Larissa’s apart She had an upstairs unit in a place without an elevator--which was just like her He happened to know she could afford soer, but that wasn’t her way She wanted her ht with a grin But what the hell He had enough
He knocked once, then opened the door Larissa wasn’t one for locks
"It’s me," he called and he stepped into her small one-bedroom apart "Hi Meet Dyna"
He glanced down and saw a cat hurrying toward hi hair and alot a cat"
"I told you I did"
"I know, but I thought you were kidding"
Dyna wound her way around his legs in a tight figure eight, depositing light-colored cat hair on his suit pants with every step
"Nice," he e into jeans before visiting again, even if thatan extra pair at the office
Larissa stood and crossed to him "Don’t whine Isn’t she beautiful?"
She picked up the cat, who immediately relaxed in her arms
Dyna’s fur was a creae, then darkening even reat," Jack said
"She intimidates orgeous before"