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Chapter Twelve

Riley

At first I was shocked to receive a text from Marge inviting me out for coffee with Inara and Taya. I’d only met them once at the barbeque. They’d been nice enough considering the way Lucas had sprung our marriage on all of them and the fact that they seemed to be well aware of our history. I’m sure his version of the events didn’t exactly portray me in a good light, so I’m relieved they accept me as part of the group. I want so much to explain my version to them and to Lucas, but I’ve seen too often how people react to finding out I have a chronic illness. It goes one of two ways. They walk out because it’s too much to handle or they get cloying and try to wrap me up in cotton wool like I might break apart at any moment.

My plan for the day had been to remain in bed, especially with the flare-up that started in the therapist’s office kicking in, even if my new bedroom is so much like my old bedroom at my parents’ place I feel like I might suffocate. Fatigue is a common symptom of Crohn’s disease and it is kicking my butt at the moment. I want to rest, take a beat, and maybe keep this flare-up from getting any worse than it has to be.

On the other hand, stress and anxiety can make a flare-up worse and the atmosphere around the house is definitely stressful. I still can’t believe what I said at therapy. Never did it cross my mind that Lucas married me to help out his case. And he’s right. There wouldn’t be a custody case if it wasn’t for me. But will telling him the truth—the whole truth—help or hurt that case? If Lisa is already having concerns about Mason having a new stepparent, how much worse will it be once she discovers I also have a chronic disease?

And now they might use what I just said to kick Lucas out of the military? A dishonorable discharge? I didn’t miss his reaction when Dr. Stehman said that. He looked stunned. Frozen. Then he went so cold and calm, and it felt like the temperature in the room dropped ten degrees. He’s barely spoken since coming back from counseling and even went as far as disinviting me from going to the lawyer’s with him because he wanted to handle everything himself.

Which I should probably understand, since it’s how I feel too. I want to handle my own life. Talk to him on my own terms, not be forced. Especially considering the way I’m feeling right now. The last thing I want is him hovering around me, babying me as I ride out a bad spell. So I’ve been keeping to my teenage dream bedroom when he’s in the house, creeping out when I hear him leave. It’s not like he’s so much as knocked on my door either. The few times I’ve walked into a room when he’s there, he’s walked out.

So, yeah. Maybe some time away from Lucas would be a good thing. Although, a café wouldn’t have been my choice. Or my second or third. Why did every social event seem to center around food?

But the place they wanted to meet, Marigold’s, is charming. It’s a great mix of rustic and modern with wide-planked wooden floors, exposed brick walls, and mid-century modern chrome-and-leather booths and stools. And the aroma! The air is delicious with the scent of coffee and cookies and cakes.

I take a second to breathe it all in, checking to see that my sundress covered with orange hibiscus flowers is in order.

“Riley.”

I look toward the back-left corner and spot Marge waving. I return the gesture and head toward her, taking a quick second to glance at the menu on the wall behind the counter. Thank the Lord, they have toast. I’ll be fine.

“Hey,” Taya stands and gives me a hug, all dark hair and snapping eyes. Next to her is a sleeping baby in a stroller.

I blink rapidly. That is one big-ass baby and while Taya isn’t petite, I really can’t imagine how she gave birth to a child that size, or how anyone could give birth to a baby that size.

The group erupts into laughter and I’m curious as to what I missed. So, I pull out a chair and take a seat, my gaze bouncing between the three women. Inara places her hand on my forearm. “We all have the same reaction whenever we look at Otto. Just looking at him makes me want to cross my legs.”

“Was I that obvious?” I let out a low groan. How freakin’ embarrassing.

Taya chuckles. “No worries, as long as those reactions are hidden from Jim. I swear my husband acts as if having a kid that’s off the growth charts is some kind of paternal badge of honor. Like he was the only one involved in making this kid.”

Jim jokes around? He has a sense of humor? The last time I met him, he was so impassive, I figured he was the group member with no personality. Definitely the complete opposite of Inara’s husband. Tony has enough personality for the whole team, although from what I heard at the barbeque, Lucas has quite the personality too.

If only I could see that side of him more. When we were in high school, he’d been fun. I remember laughing so hard at something he said, I was worried I’d wet my pants. Some of the stories I’d heard made it sound like he and Martinez were the lives of the party wherever they were. I was having a hard time reconciling that with the taciturn man whose back was so tense I could see the muscles bunch up under his shirt when we were together.

“Did you want to order anything? It’s on me.” Marge waves the server over.

“Uh, just water. And maybe some toast.”

As subtle as Marge tries to be, I catch the quick glance she shoots at Taya. They definitely have noticed what I eat or don’t eat and have talked about it. Damn it. Should have stayed home. That way, no one would have questions. Another reminder why I like to keep myself to myself, thank you very much. I have no desire to be the topic of anyone’s conversation.

Inara’s phone pings, and she picks it up and then taps furiously at it. “Carajo. I don’t understand this fool. Can someone please explain to me why I agreed to marry my husband? Was I drugged? Hypnotized?”

“What’d he do now?” Taya asks, grinning.

“Mira.” Inara turns the screen to face the rest of us. “The idiot knocked down our bathroom. Decided to remodel it. Without talking to me first.”

We all peer at the photo of a bathroom, or what’s left of one. The door is off its hinges and leaning against the wall in the hallway. There’s an empty hole where the sink should be. Same with the toilet. And half the walls are missing tiles.

My eyebrows lift and I look at Taya and Marge, who seem to be hiding smiles behind strategically held cups of coffee. I wouldn’t want to be Tony if he doesn’t get that bathroom put back together. Inara sure as hell appears to be a woman who might storm out of here to open a can of whoop ass on her husband if he doesn’t. Boy, do I like her. Maybe she could knock some sense into my spouse.

Then again, when she gets his side of the story, she might turn on me too.

Inara turns to me. “Just a heads-up, I’m sure he’ll con Lucas into helping him. Don’t be afraid to tell Tony the answer is no. And don’t leave it up to your husband to say so. Those two are like children. They can’t be left to make their own decisions. I swear Mason is the most mature out of the three of them.”

A soft laugh escapes my lips. “I don’t know any of them that well, but it actually sounds like it would be fun to watch.”

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