Shit, it’s the right Alex. “Oh. I just thought you might be able to help me. I need some conflict in my story and I remember your dad was upset you were dating. Kind of pulled you two apart. Something about being caught in a barn?”
“That was the worst day of my life. I spent a lot of time getting over it. I love the life I have now. I love my husband. Talking about an old boyfriend— It’s just not something I can revisit. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay.” I’m not sure what else to say.
“Sarah Jane, I’m so sorry I have to run. The baby just woke up and he’s crying.”
“Of course, love you.”
“You too. We’ll talk soon.”
The call ends and I stare at the screen for a few minutes. I play the conversation over in my head, trying to figure out why Alyss would be so resistant if she’s really over Alex, unless it was really that painful. Unless Alex really hurt her. Amy appears in my path disrupting my circular thoughts.
“Do you have plans for lunch? I mean obviously writing, but would you have time to take a break?”
“Sure?” Amy seems overly excited about a sandwich. “Need help in the kitchen?”
She laughs. “No, I’m having lunch with Katherine in town. Gabe’s wife?” She shakes her head. “We meet occasionally and always end up talking about books and since you’re a writer, I thought…”
“I’d love to.” Because even though I’m not a real writer yet, I want to be. I’ve fallen in love with this book. And the urge to talk about it all the time is crazy strong. The call with Alyss was supposed to do double duty—talk about my book and Alex. Too bad she shut me down. “What time?”
“Leave in about an hour?”
“I’ll freshen up and meet you down here.” As I’m rushing up the stairs to my room, it occurs to me that I haven’t gone out with girlfriends in forever. After I moved to California to be a model, or really victim, I never reconnected with the few friends I had left after high school. I’d been so caught up in the dream of being successful with my looks, school or a career didn’t matter. Lunch with Amy and Katherine takes on new significance, an importance my closet is not supporting. The empty hangers clang when I smash my shirts to the side and flip through them again, one at a time. Nothing. I tip my chin and check my outfit. Solid blue, knit shirt that brings out my eyes and shows off my cleavage. Good enough. In the bathroom, I touch up my makeup and comb the ends of my hair. Not exactly famous author worthy, but I’m not famous, or an author so it doesn’t really matter.
Fifteen
Amy takes me to the same place in town I tried, the Stone Bear. It’s a few doors away from the hardware store. My cheeks heat at memory of showing the clothesline to Alex.Alex. Could I sneak into his room again tonight? He’ll probably start locking his door now and how embarrassing would it be to be caught in the hallway like that? Maybe he’ll sneak into mine?
Katherine is tall and thin and gorgeous. She’s older than me with a subtle New York accent and could have easily been a model. I’m a little in awe of her and the way she fills a room even a restaurant sized one. But her smile seems genuine when she meets me.
“I ordered wine, you drink right?”
Amy laughs. “This is SJ, she writes romance.”
Katherine’s warm smile is welcome after my cousin’s response to my confession.
I return the gesture and tell her, “I’d love a glass of wine.”
I settle into a chair between them. They chat about the resort construction. Amy told me Katherine is married to Gabe, that man I met who works with Alex. He seems younger than her, but her face lights up like she can’t hold in her happiness when she talks about him. I ignore the twinge of jealousy that both Amy and Katherine have their dream men.
“So do you have any kids?” Amy asks.
Is she talking to me?
“Not at the moment,” Katherine responds. “Probably around the holiday. Seems to always be a tense times for families.” Katherine sips her wine while I try to figure out what she’s talking about.
“Katherine and Gabe foster.”
“Oh. Wow. That’s got to be a lot.” I’m at a loss for words, having never met a foster parent before. She seems like she belongs in Aspen not taking care of someone else’s kids in crisis.
“I love it.” The food comes and interrupts whatever else she might have said.
My Asian inspired salad is delicious and I dig in after a tentative bite, suddenly starved.
“What are you reading?” Katherine asks Amy.
Amy turns pink. “Um. I kind of fell into a series about orcs.”
