Page 119 of Dancing in the Rain

“About what?”

“I’m sleeping with Drew.”

After a beat of silence, Nik said, “I’m on my way over.”

“Bring wine.”

“Well, duh.”

Peyton smiled.

Nik walked in holding a bottle of zinfandel.

“Wow, you don’t skimp,” Peyton said, recognizing the label. “I think for this we only needed a cheap red. A very large bottle of cheap red.”

Nik grinned. “Please. This is huge news. This deserves a big wine.”

Peyton opened the wine and poured generously into two big glasses. She handed one to Nik and led the way into the living room where she sat cross-legged on the couch.

“Okay, spill,” Nik said, sitting at the other end of the couch.

“I don’t know how this happened…”

One of Nik’s eyebrows flew up.

“Okay, I do know how it happened. The first time. He took me to a party on a friend’s boat and we stayed overnight and shared a room. I was cold and nervous and…and well, he’s pretty gorgeous.”

“No argument there.”

“But somehow it turned into us having sex a lot. And…Chloe saw us kissing this afternoon when he left. She wants to know what’s going on.”

“Oh, frak.”

“Right?”

“So…whatisgoing on?” Nik sipped her wine. “Apart from a lot of secret sex.”

“I don’t know. Nothing. How can it? I’m moving back to New York.”

Nik pursed her lips.

“When I reminded Chloe of that, she got upset. She thinks she’ll never see Drew again.”

“She’s getting close to him,” Nik murmured.

“Yes.” Peyton sighed and looked down into the burgundy liquid. “I can’t do this to her. Moving her to New York is going to be so disruptive to her. I’ve known that all along, but I just thought…I didn’t have a choice. My job is there. The one I’ve worked so hard for. My apartment, my life.”

“Your apartment isn’t that great,” Nik said. “No offense. And I know you have new friends there, but it’s not like you can’t keep in touch with them if you move. And it’s not like you have a husband or even a boyfriend there you have to consider.”

“True.” Peyton sighed.

“But yeah, I know your job is important to you.”

“It is.”

“Is it your job that’s important? Or your career?”

Peyton frowned. “What do you mean?”

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