Page 29 of Both Sides Now

After a quick stop in the bathroom to reapply lipstick and straighten my hair, I hurry into the banquet room. I know I’m Shawn’s wing woman, but I need to call an early end to the evening. I can’t bear to look at Keegan’s face and see dread or disappointment about our earlier tryst. Figures. The first man Ikiss since Charlie’s death runs away as if I have the plague. Maybe I’ve lost my touch. It has been almost two years.

I don’t get it. His body reacted to me. He wanted it, too. Until … he didn’t.

Great. Now I doubt not only my sexual prowess but my kissing ability. Plus, I kissed a man who’s dating another woman.

A woman who warned me against just this sort of behavior.

I’m going to have to apologize to her. To him.

Or maybe I can get some plastic surgery of my own, change my name, move to Nepal and raise goats for the remainder of my life.

“Callista, there you are. I’m sorry to do this, but we have to go.” Shawn offers a rueful grin and a shrug, and I damn near launch myself into his arms when I hear them.

“Thank God. I mean, what happened? Is everything okay at home?”

“My daughter is vomiting everywhere, and Suzanne is miserably sick. They need help.”

I squeeze his arm, forcing a smile. “Yes, they do. Let’s get our coats.”

“I’m sorry I ruined your evening.”

“You didn’t.” It’s true. Shawn didn’t ruin anything. I did, by allowing my unrestrained hormones to seize on a moment of passion. Worse, I also destroyed the fledgling friendship between Keegan and me, all because I couldn’t keep my hands to myself. No, they were far too busy trying to rid the man of his pants.

Note to self: don’t drink wine and kiss handsome doctors.

Bad idea. Very bad idea.

“Are you okay?” Shawn questions, his brow furrowed.

“I’m just worried about your family. I hate that they’re sick.” I catch sight of Keegan across the room as we make ourway to the door, his blue eyes fixed on my countenance. Burning holes into me, much the same way his kisses burned holes into the armor I placed around my heart.

Megan is nowhere to be found. Another bonus as I perform my walk of shame.

I force a polite nod in his direction before slipping out the door.

So much for wading back into the world. Neither one of us is ready for the other.

A few days later,I’m perched in my typical evening location, a tub of ice cream on my lap. No, I haven’t entirely fallen off the ‘rejoin society’ wagon, but I am taking a hell of a detour.

Chocolate chip cookie dough helps.

My phone buzzes next to me. Suzanne. Here’s hoping my friend is feeling human again. “Are you better?”

“Finally. I thought I was dying a few times there. Of course, Shawn offered no sympathy. The joys of marrying a doctor.”

An innocent statement. Totally devoid of malicious intent. But it sends my ill-received kiss with Keegan screeching back into the forefront of my mind. Glancing down, I stab at the ice cream in the tub. About halfway gone. It might last the evening.

“I wanted to broach a topic with you.”

Christ. I’m not in the mood for broaching. “Go ahead.”

“I showed my friend photos of our trip from a few years back. The one to Maine? Well, he thought you were the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.”

“So, you were showing photos to a blind man. Don’t know how that works, Suzanne.”

“Funny. He got divorced last year and was hoping you might be interested in going to dinner.”

Nope, half a tub isn’t nearly enough. “Why?” Normally, I would force some level of decorum, but I’m fresh out tonight.

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