This time, I do choke, swallowing the cold liquid down the wrong pipe. A coughing fit ensues as heads whip toward me and Saylor shouts her disgust.
I tap my chest as Julia pats my back. When the coughing subsides, I stare at my nowformerfriend. “How did you know?” My voice comes out raspy from the coughing.
“So it’s true?” Greer squeals. “I thought Heath was full of shit!”
“I knew it!” Saylor shouts. “You two were giving off major flirty vibes.”
“Flirty vibes? I don’t even know what that means,” I mumble, totally full of shit, avoiding everyone’s gaze because my cheeks heat.
“Don’t ignore my revelation,” Greer says, before taking a forkful of her pasta.
“It’s not like it’s the first time.”
Saylor’s eyes widen. “You’ve slept with him more than once.”
Greer nudges Saylor’s shoulder. “Obviously, Say. These two were hot and heavy in high school.”
“I meant since she’s been back.”
I shake my head, covering my heated face with my wineglass. “No, it was a one-time thing.”
“It’snevera one-time thing,” Julia chimes in.
“I mean, not that I want to think about my brother having sex, but the two of you looked like you could’ve mounted each other in my salon this morning.”
I gasp, mouth dropping open. “We did not!”
“Yes, you did,” Saylor argues, eyes widening as she wiggles in her chair. “He whispered something in your ear and I thought you were going to combust right then and there.”
My cheeks heat at the reminder of those whispered words. The truth is, I thought I was going to combust. The way hisbreath feathered across my neck, the heat radiating from his proximity. It was all too much, but I can’t say I hated it. In fact, I want more.
“Yeah, your face says otherwise,” Greer calls out.
Saylor shrugs. “I told you so.”
Abby lets out a deep cackle. “Oh my gosh,” she pants. “I needed a night like tonight.”
Abby slides Clem off her boob as she clasps a few buttons and adjusts her daughter onto her shoulder. “I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and defeated lately. Goldie has turned into a total three-nager with a raging attitude and Clem still isn’t sleeping through the night. Factor in Jacob’s stress with the athletic booster fundraiser, and frustrations are high.”
The Silo Bay Hawks athletic boosters were supposed to host their annual casino night in May, but due to a scheduling conflict, their reservation was canceled, shifting the date to June. It doesn’t make any sense why the reservation was canceled, since it’s always been on the same weekend in May for the last ten years. No other place was available right away, so the members decided to push the date rather than cancel.
Greer reaches across the table and grabs Abby’s hand, giving her a reassuring squeeze. “I’m sorry you’re going through so much at once. I can’t imagine how exhausting it must be to juggle everything, all while trying to take care of yourselfanda farm.”
“You know you can always call me to come babysit. I’m morethan happy to take Goldie off your hands for a few hours. Now that the weather is getting warmer, she can come over and swim. We’ll have a girls’ day,” Saylor offers.
I glance around the table and take a deep breath. “I know it doesn’t help now, but Imayhave a solution for future booster nights.”
“How so?” Abby asks, eyes glittering with unshed tears.
“I stumbled across my mom’s journals scattered around the house. The first one I saw was sitting next to my childhood bed.”
The table quiets, and I take a gulp of my wine. Admitting I’ve been reading my mom’s journals is hard. There’s so much guilt and grief clouding my relationship with her—or lack of.
Greer’s eyes widen. “Oh, shit. That’s got to be tough.”
I nod. “You have no idea. Seeing that journal on my nightstand felt like a slap to the face. Like she would go into my room to be near me and write.”
“Fuck,” Saylor rasps.
