Page 54 of Surrender

Cortney tilts her head, the shine on her hair catching beneath the lights. “You’re still at Jack’s?”

“Yes?” My eyes slide to Bree, but she’s studying her lap. “Is that bad?”

Her head flies back. “No! It’s not bad. You should stay.” Bree’s palm settles on my shoulder, and she rubs it soothingly.

“We just didn’t know,” Juniper adds with a warm smile. “He’s pretty private most of the time. Jude too. So we’re hearing this for the first time.”

“He didn’t tell you I stayed after the blizzard?” I look at Bree, but Cortney shakes her head.

“He let us believe you went back to the motel. Though, I don’t think he outright said that you did.”

“I think it’s sweet.” Bree pulls a piece of popcorn from the bowl between us. “Him letting you and your kids stay somewhere more comfortable.”

“It is sweet,” I mumble. My head throbs in time to the music.

“Did you start your new job this week?” Bree keeps the focus on me. I shouldn’t be surprised to be beneath the spotlight.

“I did. It’s nice so far.”

“What is it you’re doing?” Cortney bites the straw between her lips.

“I’ll be working patient registration at the hospital. It’s not glamorous or even a passion of mine, but it’ll pay the bills.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. What do you think you’re interested in?” Cortney asks.

My grip tightens around my drink. “I sort of put all my hobbies aside when I became a mom.” I flush with embarrassment over the truth.

Cortney leans across Juniper. “I did the same thing. My son, Oliver, was three when I finally found my passion and returned to school. It can take time to remember you’re so much more than just a mom.”

“So you and Bree used to be best friends in high school?” Juniper moves the subject along to safer waters. I vow her next round is on me.

I pull a crisp onion ring from the platter the bartender sets in front of us and push it down the line. “Yes. I grew up on the other side of town with my parents.”

Juniper selects a mozzarella stick. “I wouldn’t remember. I’m a bit younger than the rest of you.”

Bree leans into my shoulder to whisper, “She’s still in her twenties.”

Lee has to be at least ten years older than her, if not closer to fifteen. I swallow down a bite of my onion ring. “I don’t blame you for snagging an older man. Those boys in their twenties don’t know a whole lot about being with a woman.”

A certain man four years older than me pops into my mind before I shove him away. Now, that’s a man who knows how to please a woman. I press my thighs together.

“I agree,” says Cortney. “The boy from my twenties knocked me up, then left me for someone else.”

I grimace.

“Corjan and I split for ten years because he was nowhere ready in his twenties.” Bree primly dabs a fried pickle into some ranch.

“I’m still dying to hear that story. I can’t believe it’s real. The two of you were so in love when I last saw you.”

She shakes her head. “In love but stupid. We wasted so much time, but it doesn’t matter now.” Her smile is filled with love and warmth.

I softly lay my fingertips on her forearm. “No, it doesn’t matter.”

The questions continue through another round. Cortney tells us she met Sebastian six months ago when he came into her veterinary practice with an injured stray cat and claims it was love at first sight. I try to ignore the way Juniper and Bree share a covert glance. They fill me in with funny tales of the dogs at their family’s dog sanctuary. Bree and I trade kid stories, and I send them into a fit of laughter as I recall Jack’s incident with Bennett’s diaper blowout.

Cortney wipes tears from her eyes. “You don’t know how badly I wish he had home security cameras.” She laughs and slaps the bar with her palm. “I’d pay money to see that.”

“It was pretty bad, but I have to say, he handled it extremely well for a bachelor without kids.”

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