I love swimming, but the smell of chlorine is not something I enjoy.
“Not a problem. I’ll have a cold beer waiting.”
Elijah turns.
“It’s good to see you,” I say.
We only reconnected over the summer, his ex-wife, Darra, having driven a wedge between our friendship. Recent events have highlighted why she had such a major hard-on for ensuring I wasn’t part of their lives.
Elijah must read something in my expression, because he smiles and nods.
“You too. We have a lot to catch up on.”
I nod and head to the showers.
By the time I make it upstairs, everyone is sitting in the living area.
“Jaxson,” Pen says, getting up and giving me a hug.
“Hey, beautiful. How’s this old man treating you?”
“Oh, you know,” she says with a wink, earning us both anehfrom Elijah.
Pen returns to his side on the sofa, his arm sliding around her shoulders, her hand resting on his thigh.
“How was your swim?” April asks, appearing next to me, holding out an ice-cold beer.
“Good. Just what the doctor ordered,” I say, raising my beer and saluting the others before taking a deep swallow.
We swap pleasantries until April tells us dinner is served.
“Have you heard anything from Zach?” Caleb asks.
Elijah scowls, and Pen places her hand over his clenched fist.
His gaze meets hers, and he sighs.
“He sent me a letter,” he says.
“And?” Caleb presses.
“And, it’s sat unopened in a drawer. I’m not sure I can deal with any of his pathetic excuses. I might have been able to forgive him if it were only me affected, but he dragged Kat into their sick and twisted game.”
My chest tightens. Thoughts of Kat screaming and punching the woodland floor, her pain and frustration palpable.
“HowisKat?” I ask.
Silence descends around the table.
“You know Kat,” Caleb says. “She tells everyone she’s fine, but all she does is work, work and more work. I called around to see her at the apartment, but there was no answer.”
“She’s not living at the apartment anymore,” Pen says quietly. “She’s moved into the family suite at the hotel.”
“What thefuck?” Caleb hisses. “Why am I only hearing about this now?”
“Take a breath, big boy,” April says, gripping his forearm tightly. “You can’t fix this. Kat has to deal with this in her way. Trying to force her is not going to help her heal any faster. All you can do is be there for her, support her.”
Caleb turns to his wife, his expression softening.
