I rotated my head so I could look at my best friend. "It felt right when I slipped it back on. How can that be? It hasn't even been two weeks since the drunken wedding."
Elle chuckled. "You need to stop focusing on the fact that you were drunk when it happened."
"But I was drunk when it happened," I hissed. "I don't even remember the wedding or what happened afterward."
I think that bothered me more. I wanted to remember what it felt like to have Parker between my legs. To know how it felt when he slid inside me. I had the feeling it would've been memorable, and that killed me.
"True, but you can think about it another way."
"Such as?" Was that hope in my voice? It sure sounded like it.
"Your subconscious knew what you truly needed and wanted in life."
God, I so badly wanted that to be the truth.
I was cut off from saying anything further when Ben walked up to our table. "Molly. I saw yourhusbanddropping you off this morning. I guess he didn't fix you car like you thought he would."
I didn't like the way he emphasized the word husband. The look on his face also bothered me, but I brushed it off. "Unfortunately not but it's at the garage now, so they should be able to figure out what's wrong with it."
"Your husband seems like an okay guy." There he was saying that word again like it tasted bad on his tongue. "I see you're wearing your ring today. What, no diamond to go with the band?"
Seriously? Was Ben for real right now? I wanted to snap back at him, but Elle beat me to it. "Her married life isn't any of your business. Don't you have your own teachers’ lounge to eat lunch in?"
"Just wanted to stop in and check on a friend. I'm nice like that." Ben's smile was borderline creepy, and I wished more than anything he would leave us alone.
"Well, I'm fine. Parker made sure of it."
Okay, maybe that was a little dig and a whole lot of bitchy, but I didn't care. He started it, and I wasn't about to let anyone walk all over me.
"Parker, huh?" His tone was starting to piss me off. "Well, have a great lunch, ladies. I'll see you around."
Elle and I waited until he left before we spoke again. "What the fuck was that?" I asked my friend.
"I don't know, but it sounded a lot like he was mad to learn you're married. I told you he has a crush on you."
"Middle school girls have crushes." I rolled my eyes.
"Fine, helikesyou. Is that a better term?"
Not really but what could I say? I didn't want Ben's attention. He did nothing for me.
"If you say so, but I don't want to talk about him. I'd rather tell you about what's going on with Parker."
Elle's eyes lit up. "I thought you weren't ready to talk?"
My best friend was lucky I liked her because there were times she was a pain in my ass.
"Maybe I changed my mind. I'm allowed to do that."
"You most certainly are. Now tell me what happened last night." Elle forgot all about her lunch and put both elbows on the table so she could rest her head in her hands. And she stayed like that while I talked.
I told her all about showing him the real me. Not the dolled-up woman I had been the night I ate dinner at his house. That was me seeing how far I could push him. Last night was about seeing if he liked me as I truly am. As it turned out, he preferred last night’s version and wasn't afraid to tell me as much.
We laughed; we ate dinner. We spent time talking about anything and everything, and at the end of the night, Parker respected me enough to sleep on the couch instead of turning our situation into a one-bed trope.
Little did he know I would've gladly welcomed him into my bed even if it was only to sleep.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
