I had no idea he felt like that. He’d always seemed so above everything, and he’d had his dad’s place to escape to. But he’d still had to come back to Allegra. In a way, we’d never escape her being our mother. But I could make the decision to not let her affect my life going forward. To turn my back on all of the bullshit she’d poured into my ears my entire childhood. Not to forget it, but to recognize that it didn’t come from someone who loved me. Someone who valued love and empathy and care for others.
Dallas and I looked at each other for a moment that stretched out.
“Not that I’m saying you need it, but talking with someone really helped me for a while. It doesn’t even have to be a professional. Just…someone you can trust.” His eyes flicked to Lea, who’d been watching both of us, standing a few feet away as if to give us some privacy.
“Yeah, I get that. I’ll think about it. And I’ll figure out when we can meet tomorrow. Thank you for this. And for…for other stuff too.”
My eyes pricked with tears and I couldn’t remember the last time I had cried. I really couldn’t.
“You’re welcome, Vail. Come here.” He held his arms and we shared a hug.
A sniff beside me made both of us turn.
“I’m sorry. Have your moment.” Lea waved at us to continue. Damn, she was sweet.
“We should go,” I said. I didn’t want anyone other than Dallas to see us like this. I also didn’t want anyone from the country club to find the two chairs we’d fucked through.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. Get home safe.”
He waved as he pulled his keys out of his pocket. Lea and I both waved back.
“He’s turned into a really good guy,” Lea said as I slid my hand into hers and we headed for the town car near the end of the row with the driver standing and leaning against the door.
“Yeah, he did. I’m sorry I missed most of it.”
Lea squeezed my hand as the driver rushed over to open the door. “But you’re not missing more from here on out. You can change things going forward.”
She was right. Lea was right about a lot.
We slid into the car and she kept holding my hand as we drove away from the country club.
* * *
“What arethe chances we can both get in your bathtub?” Lea asked when we got back to my house. Since I wanted to get home to the kittens, we’d elected to come to my house, even though she didn’t have all her stuff here.
“Guess who packed enough stuff to stay over, just in case?” Lea asked, patting her bag. So that was what she’d brought.
“You’re so smart,” I said, grabbing her chin and pulling her toward me for a kiss.
She laughed and I swung our hands together as we walked into the house.
“Hello!” I called and Maya walked over from the living room.
“Hey, you’re back early.” She had a book in her hand, one finger stuck between the pages to hold her place.
“Yeah, we kind of left early,” I said, sharing a look with Lea, who was bright red and trying to hide behind me. Now Dallas, the driver,andMaya had seen us in our post-coital mess.
Maya put her hand up. “Say no more. Let me just gather up my things and I’ll be on my way.” I’d paid her for the whole night, but I really wanted to get Lea naked again. In or near a bed, preferably. My back was still tweaked from messing around on the floor of the boathouse. Bed would be better.
The minute Maya left, I was ripping Lea’s coat off and throwing it on the floor.
“Wait, what about the kittens?” she said as I crashed my mouth onto hers.
Oops. Did that make me a horrible cat parent? I’d forgotten about them for a few seconds in pursuit of more sex.
“Shit, you’re right.” I let her go, putting both hands up and backing away.
She laughed and followed me into the living room where the kittens were sleeping in one of the baskets of their cat tree.
