Page 85 of Here & Now

“I stayed up late.”

“Were you watching a movie?”

“I was with Zane,” Bree blurted out.

“Zane, as in your sexy neighbor whom you claimed you wanted nothing to do with?”

She scrunched up her face and squeezed her eyes shut. “Yes.”

“Ohmigod, did you have sex?”

“Um-hmm.” She left out how many times.

“Yay! I’m so happy for you!”

“Thank you?”

Ivy laughed. “So, how was it?”

Bree sighed. “Fantastic, amazing…” The list could go on and on.

“It’s so nice to call and hear you so happy.”

She smiled. “It’s nice to have good news for a change.”

“So now what? Are you two dating?”

Bree deflated a little. “I’m not sure. We didn’t really label it.”

“Well, you’re going to keep seeing him while you’re there, right?”

“It’ll be hard not to since he lives next door.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

“I don’t know what else to say right now. It’s still new.”

“Well, I’m jealous.”

Bree’s eyes went wide. “Jealous?” Since her sister had gotten married and had Sofie, she’d been the jealous one.

“Don’t get me wrong. I love being a wife and mom, but it’s not like the rush of a new relationship.”

“I’m not sure I would call it a relationship.”

“Whatever it is, enjoy it while you can.”

Bree had been telling herself the same thing, hoping it would stick. Reality had a way of sneaking in, though, reminding her that this relationship was only temporary.

“I’ll try to,” she said.

“Oh no!” Ivy cried.

“What happened?”

“Sofie just spit up all over her new outfit! I have to go.”

After they hung up, Bree climbed out of bed and, moving slower than usual, went into the bathroom. As she eyed herself in the mirror, she was glad he wasn’t here to see her. Her hair was plastered to her head on one side and sticking straight out on the other. Her chin and neck were covered in red blotches where his stubble had grazed her skin.