Free Tangled Web by Jade C. Jamison Page B

wanted to do was avoid conversation until she’d had time
to think-- really think. She turned around. “Hey, um, feel
free to help yourself to anything in the fridge, or you can shower
if you want, or--”
    “I think I’ll be snoozing a little longer if
it’s okay with you.”
    She nodded. “All right. See you soon.”
    She hurried out of the bedroom and saw Sam
sitting on the couch, looking angry. She walked over to him and
scratched under his neck. She whispered to him, “I never said you
couldn’t curl up in bed with me last night, grumpy.” She didn’t say
it out loud, but she wanted to tell him that he curled up with her
all the time when Grant was there. Of course, sex with Grant was
contained, safe, and predictable, and Sam had months ago accepted
Grant’s presence, so maybe he felt more secure with him. Katie
rubbed the top of his head. “C’mon.” She filled up his food bowl
and got him some fresh water, then ruffled his head one more time.
She pulled her water bottle out of the fridge. Then she grabbed her
jogging key that hung on a blue lanyard from behind the door and
began trotting down the street.
    * * *
    Running was a bad idea, and she discovered
that less than half a block after starting. Every time her shoe hit
the sidewalk, a fresh new jolt of pain pounded in her forehead. She
kept pushing herself, believing that it would get easier after a
while. But after jogging half a mile, she turned around and walked
back. She was dripping with sweat, probably a good sign, she
thought, but her stomach felt queasy, her mouth dry in spite of the
water she’d been sipping, and her head felt like it was clamped
under the tire of a monster truck. The sun wasn’t even up yet, but
the air felt like the Mojave. She hoped she was sweating out the
alcohol and pain, but she had her doubts. Work was going to suck
today no matter what, though, and it was all her fault. She was
grateful she’d finished up all the miscellaneous case notes she’d
needed to data enter yesterday, because she doubted her mental
acuity today.
    Worse, though, was that she hadn’t been able
to think at all. She hurt so badly that she couldn’t concentrate on
her problem. As she walked the last two blocks to her house, she
thought maybe she should ask Johnny to come back to her house
tonight so they could talk. She should have a clearer head by then.
Even if, later on in the day, she still felt crappy, the deed at
least wouldn’t be fresh. Time would give her an advantage, even if
she didn’t think about anything on a conscious level. Grant wasn’t
due back in town until tomorrow, so that would give her some time
to sort out the sudden mess that her life had become.
    The white door to her house had never looked
so inviting. She unlocked it and was greeted by Sam. She picked him
up, scratching him under the chin. “Have you found it in your heart
to forgive me?” He rubbed against her chin, letting her know that
he was at least considering it.
    She went to the bathroom and turned on the
shower. Maybe hot, cleansing water could help. She eased in and
took her time, shampooing her hair and soaping herself down, the
act itself a reminder of where Johnny’s hands had been on her body
last night. She almost blushed thinking about it. She still
couldn’t think of what to tell Johnny, instead only being able to
think of the deed and not the repercussions.
    She got out and toweled off, throwing on her
bathrobe and winding the towel around her brown mane. She slathered
moisturizer on her face and lotion on her body, then hung up her
towel and combed out her hair. She then headed to her bedroom to
dress. She’d been hoping Johnny had gone back to sleep so she could
just slip out to work and leave a note that she wanted to chat
later. But no such luck. He was up, sitting on the side of the bed,
fully dressed. His arms were crossed in front of his chest.
    “Hey,” she said, almost whispering. He was
not his happy-go-lucky self--she could