“Yeah, he lost his ear and partial hearing in the other ear while on active duty.All of his friends are vets and have lost limbs.”
“You’ve already met his friends?It must be serious.”
“Liam, stop.”June felt her cheeks heat, but she was willing to blame that on the weather.“It was a cookout that he had with his friends, and I was invited.It’s nothing to get excited about.”Though it had meant the world to her.
“I’m happy for you, June bug.You sound happy.”
“I am.”June was on cloud nine.She was dating the man of her dreams.“I have to go.I need to shower and grocery shop for the week.”June walked into her air-conditioned house, feeling the instant relief from the dry desert heat.Served her right for running so late in the morning.
“Alright, June bug.I’ll be in touch.Cora and I may just have to plan a visit so we can meet this guy.”
“You just want to interrogate him.”She wasn’t fooled by his sudden brotherly love and wanting to visit her out of the blue.
“Hey, it’s my brotherly right.”Liam didn’t even bother trying to deny it.
“Whatever.Bye, Liam.Give Cora my love, and congrats to you both.”June was happy for them.She would have to plan on more visits back home to spoil the baby.
“Thanks.Bye, June bug.”June hung up as she chugged a glass of ice-cold water before getting on with the rest of her day.
Chapter 27
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Casey said the following Friday as June took a seat on the bar stool at their regular table.
“We haven’t heard from you in forever,” Karla whined.
“It’s barely been a week,” June defended, though it was true she had been avoiding her friends because she’d been licking her wounds.“It’s been insane at work.I get off work, and I practically pass out while eating dinner.”
“I thought it might be something else keeping you exhausted,” Casey suggested while wagging her eyebrows.
Normally, June would blush at discussing her sex life—now that she had one.Did one time count as having a sex life?
“Honey, are you okay?”Sue asked, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder while looking at her with concern.
“I’m fine.Just tired,” she responded, trying to sound more chipper than she felt.It was hard keeping up the façade though when inside it felt like her heart was breaking.She had run out of excuses for him being too busy to call her.
First, it was work, then maybe a family emergency, but as the hours turned to days and then a week, she couldn’t lie to herself anymore.Rob was avoiding her.
“It’s more than that,” Sue remarked softly.
“June, we’ve all been friends for how long?We know something is wrong.What’s going on?”All three women leaned in closer, waiting for her to confess.
“I haven’t talked to Rob in a week,” she blurted out, needing to get it off her chest.She had been keeping her emotions buried deep inside.She’d thrown herself into work to try and shut her brain off, not wanting to think of the reason he’d stopped talking to her.
Sue reared back as if slapped.“A week?”
June shook her head.“Not since we—” Now she did blush.“Made love.”
All the women looked equally shocked and happy.
Casey was the first to break the silence.“Wait, you had sex with him, and he stopped talking to you?”
“It doesn’t have to mean anything,” Sue was quick to defend.“It could be like that dating rule.Don’t call after the first date for a few days.”
“This isn’t their first date, and it’s been more than a few days,” Casey snapped.“When a guy gets lucky and stops talking to you, it’s for a reason.”
“Maybe he’s in the hospital.”
“If I ever meet him, he will be,” Casey threatened.
