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He nods, popping a tomato into his mouth. “Yes. She’s fun. Someone to kill time with.”
“Is fun codeword for whore?” Piper asks, half joking.
Saxon’s lips twitch. “I’m not here to judge, but…”
His sudden pause piques my interest. “But what?” It’s clear he’s attempting to be polite, but we’re way past formalities.
When he reads my stubbornness, he sighs. “But she’s not you. She’s the opposite of you, and I think that’s why Sam is keeping her around.” I instantly regret my snooping. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
But he’s wrong. I’m glad he did. “No, don’t be. If we’re going to do this, then we need to be honest with one another.” Saxon lowers his eyes, and I wonder why.
“There is no way he is serious about her. How can he be when you’re her predecessor?” His actions are finally explained.
Piper’s fork is en route to her mouth, but she swiftly halts when she hears Saxon’s confession. Seeing her speechless is a scary thing.
I feel like I need to fill the silence, but I have no idea what to say. As ridiculous as this may sound, I decide to say the only thing fitting. “Um, thank you. I think.”
He kisses me on the temple. “I’m only speaking the truth.” This conversation has given me enough food for thought, ruining my appetite for anything else.
We eat in relative silence, making small talk and allowing the radio to fill the static. Do I feel better knowing Saxon thinks Alicia is just a rebound too? I push my plate away from me, suddenly unable to eat another bite.
“Oh my god! I love this song!” Alicia jumps up and begins dancing along to some pop song. I use the term dancing loosely because as she begins flicking her long hair and gyrating her hips, I wonder if we should go inside and give Sam and her a minute alone.
Saxon looks at her over his shoulder, shaking his head as he reaches for his beer. Good to know I’m not the only one who thinks she’s a moron. “You hate her.”
“Whaatt?” My drawn-out, high-pitched response confirms his claims.
Saxon laughs, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “It’s written all over your face.”
“Hate is a very strong word,” I counter, but my argument is weak.
“Be honest.” When he plays that hand, he leaves me with no other choice.
“I just think Sam can do better. Alicia is not right for him.” I regret the moment the words pass through my lips, but they’re out now, and Saxon did tell me to be honest.
“No one will be right for him, Lucy. In your eyes anyway.”
I turn to look at him, arching a brow. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means odds are you won’t like anyone he brings home. You guys have history. It’s normal for you to be quick to judge.”
I blink. Are we really having this conversation as if we’re discussing the weather?
In the past, Saxon would have steered clear of this topic like the plague, but now, he doesn’t seem at all bothered. “What exactly happened between you and Sam today? Why are you so…tolerant?” I wanted to use a little more tact when asking this question, but I need to know what’s going on.
He smiles, kissing the tip of my nose. “We…talked. For the first time ever, we spoke about everything. I don’t want you to think we sat down and reconciled over a few beers because we’re way past that. But we agree on one thing.”
I suddenly feel hot. “And what’s that?”
“You. We both want you to be happy. And we both want you in our lives. To do that, we need to learn to get along. So we’re trying. Things will never be kosher between us, but the fact I don’t want to headbutt him for looking at you, and trust me, I see everything, is progress.”
Wetting my suddenly dry lips, I stare, dumbfounded. Can this really be happening? This is my dream come true. So why do I feel like there’s a catch?
“Is it weird?” I squeak, proud of myself for articulating a sentence.
“It’s fucking weird,” Saxon confirms. “But love makes you do crazy things…like accepting the fact you need Sam in your life to be happy.”
Lowering my eyes, I suddenly feel like Veruca Salt. I want it all. I could deny it, but he’s right.
