When he realized she was serious, he slapped her ass. “Okay. Fine. Get up and lemme grab my phone. I think our wedding photos are still stored on the Cloud somewhere.”
She rolled off him so he could snatch his jeans from the floor and fish his phone from the pocket. He sat on the edge of the bed as he located the pictures. When he finally stretched out next to her and handed her his phone, she took it with shaky fingers.
“We were married by a justice of the peace.” He sounded disinterested. “So you won’t see any fancy tux or five-layer cake if that’s what you’re thinking. Just me in my best suit and Chloe with a cheap grocery-store bouquet.”
“Just let me…” She drifted off as she thumbed the screen so the phone would wake up. The second she saw the first picture, her stomach sank.
There was Sam, looking young and handsome and so much like the boy she’d known when she was thirteen that she couldn’t help suffering a pang of nostalgia. And there was his wife, tall and tan and blond.
The woman actually looked enough like Candy that Hannah nearly did a double take.
“You have a type.” Her voice was raspy thanks to the constriction in her throat. But that was nothing compared to the vice around her heart. “Tell me your ex-wife isn’t the spitting image of my big sister.”
He studied the screen. “Holy shit. You’re right. Never noticed that before.”
“Areallyour exes blondes?”
He screwed up his mouth as he considered her question, then… “Come to think of it, a good portion of them are.”
Whatever she’d been about to say was cut off by a knock at the door. “Sorry to interrupt.” It was Eliza. “But I have clothes and shoes for Hannah out here. I’ll leave them hanging over the knob.”
“Thanks, Eliza!” Sam called. Then he smacked a quick kiss on Hannah’s mouth and vaulted out of the bed. “Come on. Let’s get ready. Fake identities and weaseling our way into state-run power plants requires attention to detail.” He rubbed his beard and winced. “I think I probably gotta get rid of this to really pull off the look.”
When he bent to grab his jeans, the Jolly Rancher she’d shoved in his pocket fell to the floor. After picking it up, he quirked an eyebrow.
“I take it Candy shared more than just my inexperienced park bench groping. You know, I’d done a bang-up job of getting rid of the sugar in my diet untilyoucame back into the picture six months ago and reminded me of my addiction.” His expression was teasing and more than a little accusing. “Now I keep a bag of these under my vanity like the dirty secret it is. I’m assuming that’s where this came from?” He held the candy between his thumb and forefinger.
She couldn’t tease back. “You really thought it was Candy slipping the Jolly Ranchers into your pocket back then?”
His eyebrows formed a V. “Wasn’t it?”
She shook her head and thought,“Men. They can’t help but think the best of beautiful women.”
Aloud she said, “Since when did youeverknow my big sis to do something for someone just because she knew it’d make them smile? I mean, she’s a little less self-serving now. But back then? The world revolved around her and her alone.”
“It was you?” Wonder and incredulity fought for supremacy in his expression. When all she did was nod, he ran a hand through his hair. “Well what d’you know.” And then he turned and disappeared through the bathroom door.
She was left to stare at the empty space he’d left behind as all her hopes and dreams yeeted themselves right out the window.
Sure, he’d slept with her. What single, horny guy wouldn’t when she’d made it clear she’d been panting after him for most of her life? But sleeping with her and wanting a relationship were worlds apart. And sleeping with her and falling inlovewith her? Well, those two things weregalaxiesapart.
Sam dreamed of the wife and the kids and the picket fence. But it was clear the picture in his head didn’t include a purple-haired pipsqueak of a woman who ran around with drag queens and preferred ridiculous T-shirts and ratty Vans to sweetheart sundresses and self-tanner.
You knew the risks, a little voice whispered.Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, right?
Wrong. And holy cheeseballs what an idiot she’d been.
Instead of listening to that tired old cliché, she should’ve taken to heart the one that went something like…what a person doesn’t know can’t hurt them.
Because now she knew. Knew what it was to give her body and soul to the man who’d long ago stolen her heart. Knew what it was to realize he’dneverfeel for her half of what she felt for him. Knew what it was to be forced to finally,finallylet go of her silly, childish dreams.
22
After dropping Becky’s borrowed dress and shoes outside Sam’s door, Eliza turned toward her bedroom. She’d made it to her own door when her cell phone blared to life.
Glancing at the screen, she grimaced. Considered not answering. And then remembered when the chief of staff called, not answering wasn’t an option.
“Hey, Dad,” she said without preamble, her hand automatically seeking the comfort of her locket. “It’s late. Is everything okay?”
