Avery simply raised an eyebrow and waited for her to go on.
“But I can’t help thinking that he’d deserve it if I did have a plan.” If she were truthful she’d admit that hell, yes, she was still mad at Harlan. But why? She hadn’t been this angry with her ex. Not after the first year or so, anyway.Because you didn’t care about Phillip like you did Harlan. Which was partly why the marriage failed.
Are you kidding? The main reason the marriage failed was that he never loved you and was only using you.
“Haven’t you ever had a bad breakup?” she asked her friends.
“Not that bad and not that long ago,” Avery said.
Rachel didn’t answer. “I’m going to get refills,” she said abruptly and stood up.
Savannah and Avery looked at each other. “There’s a story there,” Savannah said.
Avery nodded. “But she doesn’t want to talk about it.”
“Neither did I.”
“Yes, you did. Otherwise you’d never have mentioned anything.”
Fair point. When Rachel returned with their drinks Savannah continued her story. “Anyway, you can see why I’m not anxious to get involved again.”
“It was a long time ago, Savannah,” Avery said. “He’s probably changed. You have, haven’t you?”
“What about Harlan?” Rachel asked. “Is he interested in a do-over?”
“I...don’t think so.”Maybe he is but he’s fighting it just like you are. “About that night, you know how everyone was crammed in everywhere with people all over the place? Harlan and I were among the last to find a place to sleep or sit or whatever. We wound up in the Harwoods’ living room, on their couch. I think Mrs. Harwood—Becky—felt sorry for us.”
“Go on, get to the good part.”
Savannah scowled at her friends. “He offered to sleep on the floor but I felt bad about making him do that so I said we’d share. I took one end and he took the other. We talked and it was...nice. And very early the next morning I woke up lying more or less on top of him with his arms around me and my head on his chest. So I raised my head and found him staring at me and instead of rolling off of him like I should have, I just lay there.”
“And then what?” Rachel asked when she didn’t continue.
“He kissed me.”
Avery clasped her hands together in front of her heart, fluttered her eyelids and said, “Be still my heart! Was it wonderful? Did you swoon?”
Savannah had to laugh. Which was Avery’s intention. “You are such a smartass. No, I didn’t swoon, but damn it, the kiss was good. Really good.”
“And that’s a problem why?”
“Avery, the man dumped me three days after we had sex. How can I trust him?”
“It was a million years ago. What’s the harm in giving him another chance?” She turned to Rachel, who’d been sitting quietly. “Don’t you think she should, Rachel?”
“I think Savannah should do what she thinks is best.” Turning to Savannah, she said, “For what it’s worth, I can understand why you’re leery of starting another relationship with him.” She stood. “I’ve got to get home. I left the kitchen in a mess.”
“Think she’ll ever tell us that story?” Avery asked after she left.
Savannah shook her head. “I have no idea.”
“What are you going to do, Savannah?”
She snorted inelegantly. “I have no idea about that, either.”
