AllFreeNovel
Share Us
In true Cat and Lori fashion, they pick the restaurant without asking me. It’s not that I don’t like Outback, it’s the crowd that bothers me—a fact they’re both well aware of. I’ve been ready to crawl out of my skin since the moment we walked in the door to an overcrowded waiting area.
There are happy couples everywhere I look as we make our way to a booth in the back of the restaurant. Their smiling faces make my stomach knot with jealousy and despair. By the time we’re seated, my head is throbbing in protest of the conversations and laughter filling the space. My emotions are in complete chaos, but I force a smile and focus on my breathing.
“You should call Mom.” Cat looks at me over the top of her menu. “She was upset about having to sing happy birthday to your voicemail.”
“I will,” I reply, my chest burning with shame. “I haven’t felt much like celebrating today. I mean, who wants to celebrate turning thirty?”
“Shit, you should celebrate.” Lori grins. “Thirty is fabulous. I like my thirties much better than I did my twenties.”
“Right,” Cat agrees, nodding. “My twenties sucked. I like myself so much better now.”
I chuckle and shake my head. It’s hard to imagine that something better is waiting for me in my thirties after losing my future.
“And the sex.” Lori’s loud voice causes my face to burn bright, my eyes scanning the room to see if anyone heard her. “The sex is so much better. I feel like they’ve finally learned a thing or two. I spend a lot less time instructing and a lot more time enjoying these days.”
“Now that, I wouldn’t know about.” Cat sighs. “I don’t even know if I remember what sex feels like at this point.”
“Jesus,” I groan. “Can we keep the sex talk down in public places?”
“Oh, calm down.” Lori rolls her eyes, waving her hand as if batting me away. “No one can hear our conversation. You’d both be a lot more relaxed and happier if you got laid once in a while.”
My breath catches as fear creeps in. The last thing I need is for them to start in on me about dating again. Xander has been gone for over two years, but to me, I’m still a married woman. It’d feel like a betrayal.
“Oh yeah, because you’re the perfect picture of laidback and happy,” Cat retorts, twisting her mouth.
Lori flips her off, and I let out a coiled breath as they both laugh.
