Page 21 of Lennox Lane

It felt like everything, and everyone went silent as Lennox told my date I was Madam Pissy Pants. Lane’s anger scorched her face so hot it could have powered the building.

Devin’s lips parted in confusion. “I’m sorry?”

“Lennox Jackson, have you lost your entire mind?” Lane asked angrily, standing so fast her chair scraped the floor.

“I’m being supportive,” Lennox responded, looking wounded.

“You brought adult diapers to my dinner table, you fucking stalker,” she told his ass.

“Because I care,” he smiled sweetly.

“You’re about to care from an ambulance,” she said, walking up on him.

Devin cleared his throat. “Lane, is this⁠—”

“No,” she snapped.

Then she softened her tone because Devin was innocent in this particular crime scene. “No. Whatever you’re thinking, no.”

Lennox tilted his head. “Denial is part of the journey.”

“You have three seconds,” Lane sniped, pointing at him.

“To leave?” Lennox asked, playing aloof.

“To make peace with God,” she asked.

The wicked smile reappeared on his smug face, infuriating Lane. There he was, the asshole who’d chewed her out and barked at her earlier—the man who had ignored her text and apparently chosen public humiliation as his love language.

“I’ll see you soon, Sanders. Stay dry, Incontinent Ileen,” He added, preparing to walk away.

“No, you’ll see hell if you keep playing with me,” she managed to grit out.

His eyes dropped to her mouth for half a second before returning to her eyes. “Looking forward to it,” he let her know as he finally walked away.

He left like he hadn’t deposited a half-open pack of adult diapers beside the bread basket at one of the nicest steakhouses in Stonebridge. Lane watched him go, every inch of her vibrating with rage. Devin looked at the Depends, then at Lane before staring in the direction Lennox had disappeared.

“Jealous ex?” he asked.

Lane slowly sat back down. “He’s not my ex.”

Devin’s expression was careful. “No?”

“We were never anything.” The lie tasted bitter as it left her lips, not because it was false but because arguing with Lennox was far more invigorating than this date.

Devin nodded, still not believing Lane, “How did he know where to find you?”

Lane reached for her wine and took a slow sip, mostly to keep herself from screaming. “I have no idea,” she said.

But that wasn’t true, at least not entirely. She remembered lunch with Cadence and Nova laughing when she asked why Lennox should help. Batman with Wi-Fi, that the Government-calls-him good. He was a man very good at finding people who don’t want to be found. She remembered his silence after she texted him that she had plans. A cold suspicion slid through her sharper than the embarrassment he’d just placed on the table like a meal. Lennox knew where she was because Lennox had found out. How was the question? The answer was about to become his problem.

“I’m going to find out,” Lane said.

Devin leaned back, studying her. “Lane, I’m not trying to get in the middle of anything.”

“You’re not in the middle,” She glanced at the Depends still on the table and wanted to evaporate, “You’re collateral damage in a one-sided war I didn’t know was being fought.”

His mouth twitched, but amusement didn’t quite reach his eyes as he continued to poke and prod for information. “He seems pretty comfortable interfering.”