“What’s going on? Is everything okay? Is it Lucas?”
“Jason, I think we should talk.”
Oh shit, she knew.
I ran a towel through my hair for the third time. There wasn’t a drop of water left on me. One more time, and then I’d go downstairs and have a conversation with my guest. She had said nothing after I brought her a towel. I didn’tneedto change, but I needed time to get my bearings.
“So, we’ve both seen your husband naked. We have that in common.” I whispered. We hadn’t exchanged enough words to know if she wanted to claw my face or tell me to stay away fromherman. Had Simon told her, or did Bonny spill the beans?
Pulling a t-shirt over my head, I poked my head out of my bedroom. With a deep inhale, I decided it was time to put on my big boy pants, even if they were made of flanneland had superheroes on them. The universe decided fifteen minutes of Zen had been enough. It was time to face my discomfort head-on.
“Do you want any coffee?” I called down the stairs.
“I’m good, but thank you.”
“Tea?”
“Never been a fan.”
“Caramel macchiato made with almond milk?”
I headed downstairs, taking my sweet time on the descent. Lucy had taken off her hoodie and continued crimping her hair with a towel.
“Now you’re just making fun of me.”
“Not you,” I admitted. “All flatlanders.”
I probably shouldn’t poke the beast, especially considering the beast’s husband had poked me. “I’m sorry. We should be nicer to Southerners.”
“Really? We call you mountain folk when we’re being nice. Potato pickers, sometimes.”
“Hicks,” I added.
She nodded. “Oh yeah, we definitely use that.” Did she know we wore the title like a badge of honor? They might call us hicks, but did they know how to survive in the forest with a pocket knife and rope? When the zombie apocalypse came, I’d team up with a hick over a flatlander.
I debated on where to sit. Was this a ‘sit across the room and stay outside of clawing range’ discussion? Or were we going to have a quiet, intimate conversation side-by-side? She decided when she scooted over and patted the couch. It’d be rude if I took a seat anywhere else.
Even waterlogged, Lucy remained beautiful. I bet if she spent the days chasing pigs in the mud, she’d still walk out looking like a model. If Lucas grew up looking like either parent, he wouldn’t be short for dates.
Lucy’s face scrunched up. “This is awkward, isn’t it?” When she laughed, it broke the tension.
“I can’t begin to explain how weird this is.”
“I wanted to talk to you about Simon, but I guess you knew that.” Lucy fidgeted, playing with her fingers as she squirmed in her seat. “Okay, I’m just going to say it. I know you and Simon are you and Simon.”
Nope, that didn’t make it any better. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything. It’s just…”
She shook her head. “That’s not on you.”
Lucy spun about on the couch, bringing one knee to her chest. She held it in place as she faced me. I know she worked as a nurse, but if that didn’t pan out, she could work the runway. Even damp, those piercing blue eyes commanded attention. “It’s me who should be apologizing.”
“Now I’m confused.”
The room grew silent as she started to speak and stopped half a dozen times. It looked as if Lucy was as lost for words as me. I guessed neither of us had ever been in a situation where we shared a lover with another person. I would have paid money for a timely interruption. If I thought hard enough, maybe Amanda would hear me and come running through the door.
“I think I gave you the wrong impression about meand Simon. My entire world changed when I came back to the States. I agreed to the divorce, but with so much upheaval, I think I came back here and fell into old habits.”
“I’m not sure I follow…”
