She nods. “Well, I’m so glad that I was…that you were…” She glances at me. “Never mind.”
I laugh. “I know all about you and James, Caroline.”
“You do?” She looks at James. “You told him?”
James grins. “Of course, babe. He’s my husband.”
She shakes her head and takes another bite. “I guess it’s not as awkward to have an ex over for dinner when it’s ancient history.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, amused. I know what she means, but there are some details Caroline needs to be clear on tonight. This is the perfect segue.
“He’smarriedto you, obviously. We were just kids.” She giggles, and it definitely sounds a little tipsy. “Though we did enjoy learning to be adults together.” She shoots James a smirk. “If you know what I mean.”
James gives her an affectionate smile and stretches his arm along the back of the couch behind her. “I certainly do.”
I laugh. “Oh, come on, J. Tell her how much you’re still attracted to her. This isn’t all ancient history.”
Caroline looks from me to James, her eyebrows arched. “You’re still attracted to me?”
James tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I definitely am still attracted to you, Caro.”
“But you’re married.”
I lean a little closer. Fuck, she smells good. “That doesn’t mean that we can’t appreciate what a gorgeous woman you are. Or that we don’t still want to…bewith women.” I echo her words back to her. “If you know what I mean.”
She looks from him to me. “I think so? Are you saying that you still do?”
“Very much.”
She looks at James. He nods. “Yep.”
I lean closer to her ear. “So you are still very much of an interest.”
“Oh.” Her voice is soft. Almost a whisper.
She looks from him to me again, then back to him.
“So, is this awkward, then? Me being around?” she asks me.
“Definitely not the word I’d use,” I tell her.
“Oh,” she says again, as if it’s all sinking in. She takes the final bite of her parfait.
James takes the little container from her and sets it on the table.
She tips back her glass of wine, taking a big gulp. She blows out a breath. “How did you two meet?” she asks.
I look at my husband. We share a smile.
“A dinner party,” he says. “We had friends in common who were trying to introduce us for a few months. We kept missing each other, though. Then, one night, we were finally in the same place at the same time.”
“Was it love at first sight?” Caroline asks.
“Of course,” I say. “Look at him. He’s fucking adorable. He’s funny, sweet. He lets me boss him around in bed.”
James’s cheeks get a little pink, but he doesn’t deny it. My sunshine husband tells me exactly what he wants and needs too, but he does like it when I take charge.
I’m also aware of the change in Caroline’s breathing. Her chest is rising and falling faster, her nipples are pressing against the front of the simple cotton tee she’s wearing, and her cheeks are also a little flushed.
