Page 93 of Legal

That actually made me laugh. Infidelity involved more than just connecting body parts. “It’s fine, really. Whatever happened, happened.” I dug inside myself for a trace of volatile emotion, imagining Mike cheating on me. Nope, nothing. I’m not sure I’d ever felt it, even in the heat of the moment.

“Yes, that’s all in the past,” he said, looking down and rubbing his palms against his knees. “There’s only going forward.”What the hell is going on with him tonight?“Have you ever thought about trying again, Jillian?”

Mike looked up at me, and I waited for him to bust up laughing. He didn’t even crack a smile.Oh, good Lord. He’s serious.“Ah, no. I haven’t.” Not once. Not even a teensy tiny bit.

“Well, think about it now. Maybe you’ll find it’s not that crazy of an idea.” He smiled then, and all I could do was gape at him. “We’ve had this time apart, and that could have been exactly what we needed. We’ll be able to come back together stronger than ever. And I would be fully supportive of your job.”

“It’s my business, not a job, and…” And where did I even begin? Holy shit. “Are you looking for a way to avoid getting married again?” That was much more plausible than anything else my brain could conjure up.

“I would get married again to you, Jillian. That must say something.” He took my hand, but I pulled it back. What kind of fucking bizarre head trip was this?

“This is completely ridiculous. Once again, we got divorced for a reason, and it wasn’t just so we could say ‘I do’ all over again because we need more punch bowls.”

“Jillian,” he said, laughing, “I’m not suggesting we run off and get remarried, only that I would do it if you wanted. But I do think you should give me another chance. Just think how happy Daniel would be to come home and find us both together again.”

“He’s an adult now with his own life. It’s not the same as when he was little.”

“But he’ll always still care about his parents, and I know you’ll always care what he thinks, what makes him happy.”

I curled my legs underneath me and wrapped my arms around my knees. Of course, I wanted Daniel happy, but to do what Mike was proposing? It wasn’t like I had another guy in the picture, but it still made my head swim. Could things really be different a second time? Could we put our family back together for the benefit of everyone?

“And just think about grandkids, Jillian. I know that could still be a far ways off, but imagine how much fun that would be to spend time with them together. We could give them all the same kind of memories we gave Daniel. All in this same house with neither of us missing a moment.”

He scooted closer to me. “Just promise me you’ll think about it, okay?” His face was moving in toward mine, and I turned my head, so his lips got my cheek.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Have you lost your fucking mind?”

“You told me I already had.” I set my cup on top of my napkin so it wouldn’t blow away, then took a bite of my sandwich. My mouth was singing a happy tune. Angelina’s made the best mozzarella and tomato panini ever, hands down.

Perry just stared at me like I was some deranged person eating in front of a caged, starving animal. She hadn’t touched her food since I told her what Mike suggested, and what I was considering.

“This is so beyond just losing it, Jills. This is putting your mind in a fucking blender, then flushing it down the toilet. What kind of crazy shit is he filling your head with?”

Fortunately, we’d met for a late lunch during their off hours and were the only people sitting at their outside tables. I didn’t need to be telling her to watch her language every five seconds.

“That was my first reaction too, but it’s really not that crazy if you think about it.”

Perry rested her hand on my forehead. “Okay, I knew you weren’t as well as you pretended to be after you and Chase split, but this is more serious than I thought. I’ve been patient with you so far, but I think it’s time for some tough love.”

I brushed her away, laughing. “I am fine, Perry. How many times do I have to say that? Never better and moving forward. Maybe reuniting with Mike is the missing piece I need to get my life back on track. Something’s not quite right, and if things between us are different this time… Well, it’d be a great surprise for Daniel when he comes home.”

“Jills, you are seriously worrying me here. You know what’s not quite right in your life? Chase isn’t in it. He’s the missing piece.” I shook my head. Was she ever going to give it a rest and stop bringing him into almost every conversation? “Mike is like a vulture, swooping down when you’re weak. You are not thinking clearly, and you need to kick him out, like yesterday.”

I finished off my sandwich. “God, Perry, you make me sound like some invalid who can’t take care of herself. I’m not off in la-la land, and Mike’s not my merciless caregiver. My mind is perfectly capable of making rational decisions.”

“So, have you had sex with him yet?”

“What? Of course not. We’re not even officially back together yet.”

“Uh-huh. What about kissing? Did you two at least do that?”

“On the cheek.”

“Aw, sweet. Just like my grandma does.”

I cleaned up my mess then leaned back in the chair, feeling the sun on my face. “So what, Perry? Just because I don’t want to rip off his clothes? That’s not everything.”

---