His lips find mine in a tender kiss. “It’s been a long time since I’ve even done anything for my birthday, so it just…it means a lot.”
“I’ll see you tonight,” I say, and with one more kiss, he’s out the door.
Before I can even get back to my chair, Kayla is in the room, closing us inside.
“What the hell was that?” she hisses.
I plop down and press the heels of my palms into my eyes. “Kayla, what was I supposed to do? It’s his birthday. I’m not going to let him be alone.”
“How about a smidge of honesty?” she asks. “I’m not feeling so hot. How about a movie on the couch? Or better yet, let me take you out this weekend after I’ve gotten some rest?”
“A movie on the couch isn’t enough,” I say. “Oliver deserves more.”
“And so do you,” she shoots back. “You deserve better than the way you’re treating yourself. It’s not noble to hide your pain from everyone, Lindsey.”
“Not everyone needs to know,” I say. “I don’t want to bother people with my problems.”
She draws back with an incredulous glare. “Your problems? You mean yourlife?”
I massage my temples with my fingers. “I will tell him eventually. When the time is right. But I’ve been down this road before, Kayla. You know how Daniel?—”
“Was a pretentious asshat?” she asks, cutting me off. “I’m well aware. We’ve been through this. What happened with Daniel had nothing to do with you. It wasn’t because of your illness or your grief or any other stupid excuse he gave you. He did what he did because he’s an insufferable piece of shit.”
I rake my hands over my face and sigh. “I need to do this, okay? I’ll rest tomorrow night.”
She props her hands on her hips. “I’m moving up your last appointment of the day so you can leave a little early. If you’re doing this, you’re going home to take a nap beforehand.”
I open my mouth to argue, but she beats me to it.
“So help me God, I will look in Oliver’s records for his phone number and call him myself if you?—”
“Okay, okay,” I relent. “Fine. And I’ll go straight home after work tomorrow to rest. I swear.”
Her nostrils flare as she breathes out. “I’m sorry I got testy. I love you, you ding-dong.”
“I love you too,” I say with a faint smile.
“I know,” she says softly. “I just wish you would also give a little of that love to yourself. But anyway, finish your coffee, and I’ll go call your last client.”
“Thank you,” I say as she backs out of the room.
This is good. This is more than good. I’ll go home, take a quick nap, and that’ll get me through the night so I can make sure Oliver’s birthday is one he won’t forget.
24
MJ
“Youkissedhim?”Rose asks as we sit in my living room Tuesday night. We’re curled up on the couch with a giant bowl of popcorn and two glasses of wine under the pretense of watchingWhite Christmas,but so far, all we’ve done is talk. Lindsey’s upstairs asleep, having looked like death warmed over when she got in early from work. She wouldn’t even let me make her something to eat, saying she just needed to lie down for a bit, but that was hours ago. I know she needs the rest, so I didn’t dare disturb her.
“Yes,” I say, pushing my hand through my hair. “I’m freaking out here, Rose. Ikissedsomeone. Someone who is not my husband.”
“And I think that’s great. But I also think it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for you to consider a time when perhaps you might domorethan kiss someone.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She raises her eyebrows. “You know.”
“Clearly I don’t.”
