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When her friend didn’t answer, she glanced over. “What?” she said in response to the other woman’s speculative gaze. “What is it?”
“I was just wondering how long you thought you could get away without explaining your walk of shame.”
Lilly returned her attention to the plate she was filling, stabbing a sausage with slightly more vigor than necessary. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I don’t know why you’re trying to pretend it didn’t happen. I’m your best friend. It’s not like I’m judging you.”
“There is no walk of shame when you’re wearing jeans and athletic shoes, is why. That walk only happens in a teeny dress and when you’re barefoot and carrying your fuck-me shoes on your finger.”
“Lilly Durand would never not wear shoes in a public space.”
This was true. Her friend really knew her well. “I go shoe-less at a pool,” she said with great dignity. “And the beach. I like the feel of sand on my toes.”
Audra rolled her eyes and came forward to snatch up one of the plates loaded with breakfast calories. With a fork in hand, she dropped to the sofa. “What’s the latest between you and Alec Thatcher?”
When Lilly didn’t answer, her friend gusted a sigh. “You’re sleeping together. Admit it.”
There was no point in denial. “We did sleep together.”
“Was that so hard?” Audra asked.
Lilly couldn’t say. Admitting she slept with Alec wasn’t the issue, it was explaining the aftermath that tied her tongue.
“Well, I’m proud of you. I hope you end up with a fabulous, glamorous regret, something like Pink might have, or…I don’t know…Angelina Jolie.”
“She’s got all those weird tattoos,” Lilly pointed out. “I don’t want that many regrets.”
“A teeny one then, manageable, like a blurry butterfly on your ankle or a small Japanese character on your shoulder that you thought was the symbol for ‘rebel’ but really means ‘noodles.’” Audra drew in a breath. “In the ensuing years, we’ll laugh hysterically over it during those happy hours when we forget to order food along with the wine.”
“I don’t think I’m ever going to be laughing about Alec,” Lilly muttered, forking up a piece of fluffy pancake.
“What’s that?”
“How about you?” Lilly said, turning the tables. “Give me a progress report on your own regret-pursuit.” Of course she didn’t want to encourage her friend to get into any trouble, but she might feel more upbeat wearing some regular clothes and experiencing the air beyond the four walls of the bungalow.
Audra’s mouth twisted. “It might take a little more time to get started.” Her gaze shifted to her plate. “I’m still wearing part of the dress under the sweats.”
“Oh, Audra.” Lilly’s temper rose, as hot as a pepper. “Jacob is not worthy of you. And he’s certainly not worth a maudlin attachment to a swath of white lace.”
“White lace and promises.” Audra moved her food around, shoving a slice of sausage against a coin of bright green kiwi. “You know, like the song.”
“Which started life as a bank commercial,” Lilly said, ruthless now. “As a way to sell checking accounts to naïve young couples.”
Audra looked up. “Way to bust the romance.”
“My point is, there’s no reason to sentimentalize the dress you were going to wear to an event that didn’t happen.”
“I still believe in love,” Audra confessed.
“Of course you do,” Lilly affirmed. “I still believe in love for you too. But you have to get over this hump first. Get out of that now-grungy dress, put on something decent, and if you have to, yes, go out and be ‘bad,’ whatever you think that means.”
Then worried, she added. “But not too bad. No tattoos you’re not entirely certain of, nothing illegal, and if he’s riding a Harley, text me first and tell me where you’re going.”
Audra, finally, laughed a little. “Maybe I like the idea of the Harley guy. Can I stipulate that whoever he is works with his hands?”
