“No, thanks,” Alicia responded, annoyed as her brain replayed the memory of Clare in that towel last night. All that soft-looking skin…
“Oh, come on,” Clare persisted. “It’s such a beautiful morning. Beach walks are good for the soul.”
Alicia couldn’t argue with that, but…
Clare turned to face her, so Alicia had a front row seat to the hopefulness gleaming in her brown eyes. As she watched, that light gradually dimmed. There might even be a hint of hurt feelings hiding behind her ever-present smile.
Alicia sighed. “Okay, I’ll come.”
Clare beamed at her. “Great. We aren’t going far, and maybe we could go grocery shopping after? I grabbed a few things yesterday, but not enough for both of us.”
“I hadn’t quite decided if I was staying,” Alicia said.
“Am I that annoying to be around?” she asked, and this time, there was no mistaking the hurt on her face. Clare dropped her gaze to watch as Rue pawed at the sand in front of the house.
Alicia pressed her lips together. Why did she have this effect on people? She didn’t mean to. “No…it’s me, not you. I’m having a lousy week, and I’m just not good company right now.”
Clare nodded. “Understood. I’ll get out of your hair, then.” She turned and walked down the steps to the beach.
“Wait.”
Clare dragged a bare foot through the sand as she looked over her shoulder at Alicia.
“I said I’d come with you.” Alicia stood, leaving her coffee mug on the table beside Clare’s. The sand, when she reached it, was cool between her toes, not yet warmed by the sun.
As they walked, Rue darted ahead, sniffing and occasionally pawing in the sand. Beside her, Clare was uncharacteristically quiet, but when Alicia snuck a peek in her direction, she didn’t seem upset, more like she was lost in her thoughts…or maybe trying to give Alicia the space she’d said she needed. People rarely did that.
Maybe Alicia had underestimated her. She’d been around Clare plenty of times over the years, at various parties and get-togethers with Brandi and Lex, but she’d never been alone with her.
“Rue, come,” Clare called, and the dog turned and trotted toward them.
“She listens well,” Alicia commented.
“We spent a lot of time in obedience school,” Clare told her.
“Dedicated.” Alicia appreciated that. She liked animals, but it bothered her when people let their dogs run wild and misbehave. She felt the same way about children.
“Well, partly I had a crush on the trainer.” Clare’s smile turned sheepish. “But it was great bonding time for Rue and me.”
“What kind of dog is she?”
“She’s one-hundred-percent pure mutt,” Clare said. “I adopted her after my last long-term relationship ended, and now she’s basically my four-legged child.”
“Sorry about your relationship ending,” Alicia murmured.
“Me too, but it’s in the past.” Clare gestured with her hand, as if brushing something unwanted off her hoodie.
Alicia wished she could brush off her own failures as easily. This walk was exactly what she needed, though. The combination of the exercise and the ocean air had soothed her nerves, as if she’d applied balm to the raw spots. The ocean tended to have that effect on her.
“So are you staying? Because if so, we should make a grocery list,” Clare pressed.
“Yeah, I’ll stay.” The words were out before she’d had a chance to second-guess them.
Clare’s smile was as soothing as the ocean. “Awesome. What are you here for?”
“Sorry?” Alicia gave her a blank look.
“Why are you here this week?” Clare asked. “It might affect our food choices, you know? I’m an event planner, so I like to match the food to the occasion.”
