TWENTY-SIX

“Be careful with Valens,” Clover said once she pulled into a parking spot.

“Why? What do you mean?” The ride had been silent until she turned up the radio halfway to our destination.

“He is complicated.” As if I didn’t know that already. “He is not someone you question.” I frowned at that. It wasn’t as if I didn’t think or know that even.

“I never questioned him,” I said to which she smiled.

“Not directly but when I told you he wanted to see you this morning, you asked ‘what for?’ Valens isn’t a man you ask to explain himself.”

I’d only asked on reflex. He’d never sought me out for anything before so I didn’t expect him to send his former lover to me out of the blue.

“I didn’t mean it that way.” I was actually questioning her but I didn’t add that part.

“And he’s also not someone you argue with.”

“That’s unavoidable, isn’t it? We can’t live together forever without an argument.”

“Oh, you’re argumentative.” She grinned as she said that. “Valens likes it when people agree with him but I