“Cat and her mother, of course.” Jos rolls her eyes. “They tell anyone and everyone who will listen. I’d be surprised if people in the next town over don’t know, with those two.”
“But you’ve really never seen them out together?”
“Never.” She shakes her head.
“Neither have I.” Rachel interrupts, setting my fresh glass of wine on the bar in front of me. We went to school together, though she was two grades below me, in Alec’s grade. “I’ve seen Cat in here loads, and sometimes Penn, but never them together.”
“Curious.” Jos taps her chin like she’s trying to solve a mystery.
“Very,” Rachel agrees before turning to help the middle-aged couple a few stools down from us.
“Wonder what he’s up to.”
“Why does him being here with Cat automatically mean he’s up to something? It’s not like he knew I’d be here. Hell, he hasn’t even noticed me sitting here.” I look back over my shoulder to prove my point, and sure enough, his attention is on Cat.
Their server has already set two drinks in front of them and while Cat seems at complete ease, giddy even, Penn not so much. I can tell from the way he’s sitting, back rigid and hands clasped on the table in front of him, that he’s uncomfortable; thatmuch would be obvious even if I hadn’t spent almost a lifetime studying his mannerisms and the way he behaves in different situations.
“What do you think they’re talking about?” Jos asks, drawing my attention back to her.
“Don’t know. Don’t care.”
“Oh, come on, you’re not even a little curious?”
“Nope.” I lie straight through my teeth.
“Yeah, okay.” She knocks her knee against mine. “Liar.” She turns to look at them. “Uh-oh.”
“What?” I quickly follow her gaze.
“Looks like there’s trouble in paradise.”
When my eyes land on them a second time, Cat’s demeanor has completely changed, and Penn looks like he’s seconds from making a beeline toward the door.
“You said you loved me!” Her voice carries over the soft hum of background music and the various conversations going on around the bar. It’s crowded enough that not everyone seems to notice her outburst, but not me. I’m locked on whatever it is that’s unfolding like a car wreck, disturbed but still unable to look away.
He told her he loved her???
Does he love her?
The thought cuts through me like a serrated knife, nicking and tearing at the edges.
I know I have no right to be upset, no right to care, but then why do I? Why do I feel betrayal stirring in my stomach like acid that’s now burning its way up my windpipe?
I knew they were sleeping together—hell, I walked in on them in a compromising position a few days ago, but having sex with someone and loving them are two very different things.
I haven’t loved anyone since Penn. I guess in a way, I was kind of hoping he hadn’t loved anyone else either.
But that’s selfish and ridiculous. I walked away seven years ago. I gave up my right to care about such things. But I do care. I care way more than I should.
Penn says something in return, his voice too low to hear as he clearly tries to reason with her.
“You can’t say something like that and then take it back. Is that why you brought me here? Because you thought I wouldn’t make a scene if you did this in a public setting?” Cat seems to have no awareness of how loudly she’s talking or how several more heads swing in their direction.
“Is he... Dumping her?” Josie asks, a hint of laughter to her voice.
A spark of hope blooms in my chest.
Why? I have no idea.
