She gazed at him, her eyes slowly focusing. She blinked languidly. “Love you.”
He smiled and walked to his Jeep. When he got in and started the engine, he looked up and she waved goodbye. He returned the wave and then backed out of the driveway and went to work.
Chapter Thirty-Two
NICOLE
Nicole watched Sean pull out of her driveway and then closed the door and flopped down in her recliner. She was little achy from the night before, but it was a good ache. She’d spent so many days over the last few years dealing with aches and pains and all of it was awful. She pushed out the footrest and curled up. The sun had been shining on the chair, warming it up, and she nestled down into it. She felt like a very satisfied cat. She was well fed, and better yet, she was well loved. She pulled the throw off the loveseat and covered herself. Even though she’d just had coffee with Sean, within minutes, she was fast asleep.
It was just after eleven o'clock when she woke up, feeling rested and ready for a tasty brunch. She treated herself to a nice long shower and used all her favorite gels and lotions as she got ready to meet the girls. Nicole took out the expensive satin bodysuit lingerie she’d bought and never gotten around to wearing years ago. She put it on under a super soft long sweaterwith leggings. She fluffed the ends of her hair, threw on some lip gloss and mascara, and she was good to go.
She walked out into the sunshine and took a deep breath. The sun warmed her face, countering the chilly wind blowing from the north. She shivered for a moment and then put on a crochet hat from Zaina’s shop. She smiled widely, a sparkle in her eyes as she walked toward Jesse’s Pub. She’d have someone to share the holidays with this year. She wondered if Sean would be able to take off any time at Christmas. She’d promised to go on a short cruise with her parents for Christmas and she’d already gotten the ticket. She felt light as a feather as she thought about how the conversation would go with Sean. She knew he’d be happy to go with her and he’d even enjoy her parents’ company.
As she crossed the parking lot, she saw Zaina sitting in her car. She had her phone in her hand, and she was frowning. As Nicole got closer, she could see Zaina’s face was pale. She stood in front of Zaina’s car and now made eye contact with Zaina and pantomimed, “Are you okay?”
Zaina shook her head no.
Nicole started walking around to Zaina’s passenger door. She could hear a man’s voice and she thought it was probably Mike, but she wasn’t sure.
Zaina waved her off though, so Nicole gestured that she’d see Zaina inside.
Nicole walked into Jesse’s Pub and looked around for Devin. She quickly found her sitting at a table near the fireplace. Nicole walked over and sat down across from Devin. She was momentarily speechless as she recalled the last time they’d gone to brunch.
“Something wrong?” Devin’s eyebrows knit together.
Nicole propped up her chin on her palm. “I can’t believe what a difference a few weeks can make. Absolutely nothing is wrong. I feel like a different person.”
“You look like a different person!” Devin commented. Nicole sat up straighter in her seat and Devin grabbed her hand. “I mean that in the best of ways, I swear you look like you just had a facial and a deep tissue massage.”
Nicole waggled her eyebrows and said, “Well...”
Devin nodded her head, “I think we all really underestimate the health benefits of some good sex.” She squinted, leaned in and scrutinized Nicole’s face. “Is that love I see?”
A red flush climbed up Nicole’s neck, and she lowered her voice in answer, "Devin, he said I love you!"
Devin got up and went around the table to hug a sitting Nicole. “I’m so happy! You deserve so much love.”
Nicole hugged her back awkwardly, “Dev.”
“Yes Nic?”
“Um, can you let go now? You know how I feel about too much PDA."
Devin gave her one more little squeeze and sat back down. “My bad, sorry about that.”
“No worries, I’m over the moon right now. I’m surprised I can sit in the chair. I feel like I’m about to float away.”
Devin raised a finger, and a server came over, “Can we get a pitcher of mimosas?”
The server nodded and brought over two champagne flutes and a pitcher of mimosas.
“We’ll need one more glass,” Devin said, and then she turned to Nicole. “Where is Zaina?”
The server put another glass on the table. Nicole waited until he walked away then she spoke to her friend. “She was in her car on the phone when I was walking in. I was going to wait for her, but she gestured for me to come in. She looked upset Dev, I think she was talking to Mike.”
Devin sighed and shook her head, “I hate to say it Nic, but I wish she would dump his ass. I don’t trust him. I never have.”
Nicole poured mimosas into each of the three glasses. “I know! I feel the same way. I don’t know why she puts up with him.”
