But she just really couldn’t manage it. They both gulped down their sandwiches and fountain Cokes. Cary wiped his mouth after each bite with a paper napkin. He wasn’t talking either, and he was looking off into space, not at Shiloh.
When they were done, they stood outside the diner, holding hands.
“I still have my car,” Shiloh said.
“I’ll follow you home.”
That made sense. He walked her to her car. Before she could get in, Cary kissed her. She kissed him back—desperately. As kisses go, it was the equivalent of shouting at your kid because they’ve done something reckless, but you’re still so relieved they’re alive.
What were you thinking?the kiss said.
And also,Thank god, thank god.
She held him as tightly as she could around the shoulders, and heheld her around the waist. She stopped kissing after a while because it got in the way of holding him.
Cary was breathing deeply. “Shiloh, can I stay the night with you?”
“I... I think I need a minute.”
“Okay.”
“And the kids are home.”
He pulled away. “The kids are home?” His face had fallen. “You should have told me. We could have waited to go out.”
“I didn’t want to wait—I missed you. And I would have had to come into work tonight anyway.”
Cary nodded. Still troubled. Hopefully remembering that her kids were concrete, not abstract, and that he’d just signed up for fifteen years of hard labor.
She wouldn’t hold him to it.
She was still going to offer Cary an out—probably several outs. As soon as she thought he might listen.
“Let’s get you home.” He opened her car door and touched her back as she got in. “Don’t get too far ahead of me.”
When they got to her house, Shiloh stopped Cary from getting out of his rental car. She stood by his door. He rolled the window down.
“Do you have the kids tomorrow?” he asked.
“Yeah. Do you want to come over for dinner?”
“Yeah,” he said, then shook his head once. “Maybe. I have a meeting about my mom.” He still looked strung out. Sort of dazed.
She touched his cheek with her left hand. He immediately put his hand over hers.
Shiloh laughed. At nothing.
Cary closed his eyes and kissed her palm.
“Okay, Cary,” she said. “I’ll see you when I see you.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said. “Somehow.”
Sixty-Two
Mikey was sitting on the couch watchingDesperate Housewiveswhen Cary let himself in. He muted the TV. “Well?”
“She said yes,” Cary said.
