Page 50 of About That Night

My heart plummets again. “Thanks.”

He goes back into the house, and I gather my son and drive back to my place.

Josiah rejects my attempts at cuddling before bedtime, and I wind up on the couch knitting while watching a rom-com that makes me cry.

It’s about fate.

What is my fate?

Lonely Saturday nights, apparently.

Chapter Fourteen

Hank

“What the hell are you doing?” Conway asks me.

He’s helping me wash dishes after the girls and Josiah have left.

“Washing dishes. That seems pretty obvious.”

“No. With Chastity. What’s going on between you two?”

I pause in scrubbing my grilling tongs and shrug. “I’m being Chastity’s friend. She needs friends here.”

He’s drying glasses and putting them in the cupboard. “That all? You got awfully protective of her when we were joking around.”

“So?” I ask. “You were making her uncomfortable. But yes, that’s all. She’s on a dating app. She wants to find her happily-ever-after.”

With a man who is not me. Some man. Any man. As long as he is not fucking me. Damn it.

“What about your happily-ever-after?” he asks casually, like we’re discussing the damn weather.

“What about it? I’m living the dream here. Opening up my own restaurant. Spending time with your dumb ass.” Until a certain nurse popped up by Pops’ bedside that had me pretty damn happy. Even now, I’m happy. I am enjoying being friends with Chastity, even if I wish it could be more. I wouldn’t undo this time spent with her.

Conway gives a sound of frustration. “Man, getting you to open up is like pulling fucking teeth.”

“Is that what we’re doing? Opening up? Sharing our feelings? Should I pour myself a drink while you tell me about Rachel then?”

Conway pauses. I knew that would shut him up. “Rachel who?”

“‘Rachel who’ my ass. The Rachel you’ve been carrying a torch for, for years.” Rachel was married to Conway’s best friend, Tyrell, and everyone with a pair of eyes in their head knew Conway wished that ring was on his finger, not Tyrell’s. “I hear she’s separated. Her marriage is done.”

“If I’ve been carrying a torch for Rachel, then I guess we could say you’ve been doing the same for Chastity.”

That actually takes me aback a little. “What are you talking about? Since five years ago? I don’t think so. Do I think she’s an amazing woman and a great mom? Yes.”

Carrying a torch? That seems dramatic. I’ve dated since then.

“So you never thought about her at all?”

A little. “Well, sure, in passing from time to time. But she wants something different, and I’m cool with letting her have that.”

We all know I’m lying. I don’t think I am cool with it. Like at all. I’m fucking frustrated.

And I’m not talking about sex.

I want something else with Chastity. Something more. Much more.

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