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“I already told you. That son-of-a-bitch broke your heart.”
“And I already told you no one broke my heart. Besides, I’m over it, so why aren’t you?”
“People don’t change, Allie. Once a cheater, always a cheater.”
She wanted to say that Tom had never cheated on her. That he and Lauren had gotten pregnant before Allie and Tom had ever gone out. She wanted to say that. But she couldn’t. Not with any certainty because she’d never asked. Because she’d never wanted to know. After all this time, did it even make a difference?
“You changed,” she pointed out.
“I was never a cheater.”
Now it was Allie’s turn to glare at her brother.
“Okay, so maybe I slept around, but that’s when I was young and stupid. Once I laid eyes on Mimi there was never anyone else.”
The way Zeke said that made Allie’s shoulders relax. She was tempted to ask her brother about the couples counseling, but since he didn’t seem likely to bring it up himself she was hesitant to break Mimi’s confidence. Not that Allie had suspected her brother of being unfaithful, but it was good to know that cheating wasn’t one of the issues her brother and his wife needed to work through.
“I don’t know how or what I can do to make you stop hating on Tom, except to tell you I’m not getting together with him. Now or ever. Once I have this story, I’m out of here.”
“You mean, once you get your license back.”
“That, too.”
They both heard the truck pull up into the driveway. No sense in making Tom get out of his truck to knock on the door. Especially when it would mean running into Zeke. The last thing Allie wanted was another confrontation between them. She grabbed her jean jacket.
“See you later,” she
said. “I’m off to my first séance.”
“Hold on,” Zeke said. He laid the paper down on the table. “I know I don’t say it enough, but, you do know I love you, right?”
“Aw, I love you, too.”
She thought he might grin at that, but instead he looked troubled. Like he had something big on his mind. “Just don’t…Donalan’s not a bad guy. But he’s not the right guy for you. You deserve someone who’s going to put you first, and he’s already proven that he’s not going to do that.”
“I—” Allie gulped. “I hear what you’re saying.”
The drive over was chillingly polite. On both their parts. Tom hadn’t said more than two sentences combined when they pulled into the senior center’s empty parking lot. Best to clear the air between them now, in private, before Phoebe and Madame Gloria and the rest of her gang got here.
“So…about last night,” she began.
He gave her a look that said he’d been expecting this and wasn’t looking forward to it. “Why do women always want to talk about sex?”
“What? And men don’t?”
“Men want to have sex. Not analyze it,” he snapped.
“Boy, someone woke up on the wrong side of the inflatable mattress this morning.” She thought he might smile at that, but he didn’t. “Okay, well, I just wanted to say that last night was… nice, but obviously it’s never going to happen again, and I’m glad we’re able to move past it like rational adults.”
“Nice, huh?”
“Well, yes, it was…very nice.”
He snorted. “Admit it. It was the best damn sex of your life.”
Allie felt herself flush. He wasn’t supposed to challenge her on this. He was supposed to slink his tail between his legs and go off like a good puppy dog.
“Wow. Someone has a big ego. Is that why you’re pouting? You’re upset because afterward I didn’t fall on my knees and profess my undying love to the great Tom Donalan?”
