Page 92 of Books and Hookups

“Fair,” Tessa said. “What you want matters too. And if that’s not Danny, that’s okay.”

“Exactly.” I leaned into the chair and let Savannah do the thing with her fists on my lower back. I didn’t want Danny. “All I want is someone who can share the parenting load so I can write my damn book.”

Savannah stopped moving her hands. “And if that’s all you want, then it’s not fair to Danny to take him up on his offer.”

I turned my head to look at her. “That’s what I—oh, shit. Why are you crying?”

She waved a hand in front of her face. “Don’t mind me.”

“Savannah,” Tessa said. “Tell them.”

She rubbed a tear off her face with the back of her hand. “Tonight’s about Lucie and her problems.”

“I don’t have a problem,” I said. “I already did the right thing. What’s going on with you?”

“I—” She sniffed, then her face crumpled. She hid it behind her hands.

“She asked for a divorce from her unappreciative, cheating husband,” Tessa said.

“I thought you were going to couples therapy,” I said.

Savannah wiped her eyes. “We did. And it made me realize we’ve been growing apart since the kids left the house. And before that. Our marriage had become kind of…two-dimensional. We did all the things we were supposed to, but there was nothing behind it. No passion. Maybe not even any love. It seemed like we were only sharing space. He’d go to work, and I’d deal with the house and the kids. We’ve been living separate lives, really. And I deserve more than that. Iwantmore. And if he’s not willing to…to…”

“Treat you like a goddess?” Carly prompted.

“To treat me like a valuable human being,” Savannah said, “then I’d rather be alone.”

“You won’t be alone,” Carly said. “You have us.”

“And so do you, Lucie,” Tessa said.

“Thank you,” Savannah whispered.

“Goddamn fucking hormones.” I scrubbed a tear off my cheek.

32

I’ve Got It in the Bag

Broken Heart

Combine 2 parts vodka, 1 part pomegranate juice, and 1/2 part Cointreau in a shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with pomegranate seeds.

DANNY

Aflash of dark hair made me look up from the beer I was pouring. Of course it wasn’t her. She hadn’t been to the bar in over two weeks, not since I’d offered her my heart at the botanical garden only for her to stomp all over it in her combat boots.

Something ice-cold flowed over my hand. “Damn it,” I muttered, pushing back the handle to close the beer tap.

“You okay, Danny?” Barb asked. She’d wheeled herself to my side.

“Sorry, I’ll clean this up.” I set the beer in front of Frank and tugged the rag from my pocket.

“What’s wrong?” she said.

I scrubbed at the spill. “Wrong? Nothing.” Nothing I wanted to tell her about. Not until I’d talked it over with Leo.

“Something happen with Lucie?” she asked. “She hasn’t been around in a while.”

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