Page 12 of Someone to Watch Over Me

She snorts with laughter and hands him the smallest of the four muffins on the plate. “That’s it. You’re cut off.”

“She’s so mean to me, Lex.”

The face he makes has me giggling. “Y’all are too cute.”

Jim and I had what they have: lots of banter and good-natured teasing. So much love and laughter and hot sex that stopped far before either of us was ready for that. I miss him so much.

Iris’s hand covers mine. “What can we do for you today?”

“Not a thing. You’ve gone above and beyond already. I’ll grab an Uber back to Tom’s to change, and then I guess I’ll go see how he’s doing.”

“Don’t be silly. I’ll drive you home and go with you to the hospital if you’d like some company. Gage can pick up the kids from school.”

“I’m sure you have other things to do. Both of you.”

“We don’t,” Gage says.

“Now you’re just lying to my face.”

Goddamned tears! I’m so fucking sick of them!

Iris hands me a tissue that I use to angrily wipe them away.

Her offer has me almost sick with relief to know I won’t have to face the hospital alone, which also makes me feel sort of feeble. Back in the day, I was a strong, fearless female who kicked ass and took names. Now I need a friend to go with me to visit another friend in the hospital because my trauma has been triggered by yesterday’s events.

I hate that so much.

“Whatever you’re thinking, knock it off,” Iris says. “It’s no big deal to want or need a friend to go with you to deal with something upsetting.”

I stare at her. “How did you know that’s what I was thinking?”

“It’s all over your face, pal. You hate needing help. You hate feeling softer than you used to, before life kicked you in the teeth. I get that because I’ve lived it. One of the hardest parts of this journey is getting to know who we are now.”

“Yes, that’s so true. Just when I think I’ve got my new self all figured out, something happens to show me otherwise.”

“You’re figuring her out, and you’re doing a fine job of it. Will there be setbacks along the way? Hell yes, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t winning the widow game. You got out of bed today. You’re already winning.”

“Thank you. I needed to hear that.”

Gage squeezes my shoulder. “I agree with Iris. You’re slaying it. Look at where you were when you first joined our group and look at where you are now. Give yourself some credit, Lex.”

“Thank you both. Best friends any widow ever had.”

“Right back at you,” Iris says. “Now finish your breakfast, and then I’ll take you home.”

“Yes, Mom.”

“That’s a good girl.”

We share a laugh that further raises my spirits. I can’t imagine what last night would’ve been like for me if they hadn’t swooped in to make everything better than it ever could’ve been without their love and support.

A short time later, we leave Iris’s home in Gage’s Range Rover, which smells as fancy as it looks. He’ll take her minivan with the child seats to pick up the kids. “How sick is this ride?” I ask her.

“I know, right? It’s as sexy as he is.”

“TMI.”

“What?” she asks, laughing. “It is.”

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