Page 32 of Beautiful Harmony

Emma tried not to show her irritation. It wasn’t Rayna’s fault that she had destroyed her friendship with Lucas. “Because now it’s awful between us. We didn’t talk at all on the way home from his parents, and it was awkward as fuck. We didn’t talk or text on Monday or Tuesday, and then last night, we met for our regular dinner and….”

“And, what?”

“It was a nightmare. We both tried to pretend that Sunday had never happened, but Lucas couldn’t even look at me, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how much regret and horror he must be feeling. I could barely eat, and Lucas only picked at his food and… it was terrible.”

“I’m sorry, Em,” Rayna said.

“Me too,” Emma sighed. “He cancelled our gaming night tomorrow. He’s supposed to come over on Sunday for more help with knitting, but I know he’ll cancel that too. We’re already drifting apart, and I’ve lost one of my best friends because I just had to fucking kiss him.”

“From the sounds of it, he’s the one who kissed you,” Rayna said. A calico cat, its tail flicking back and forth, walked into the living room and jumped into Rayna’s lap. It purred loudly as Rayna petted it.

“I don’t know why he did that,” Emma said.

“Because he thinks you’re beautiful?” Rayna said. “He said as much last Friday when you almost kissed, remember?”

Emma shook her head. “I really thought he was just being his normal flirty self. I don’t know. Maybe he still is. Lucas can’t find me attractive. Not when he looks the way he does, and I look like this.”

“Stop it,” Rayna said sharply. “You’re not a dumb woman, so don’t pretend to be. Lucas is attracted to you because you’re gorgeous, funny, and smart, and the two of you have a lot in common. Lucas isn’t some shallow asshole, and you know that.”

“I know,” Emma said, “but it’s still hard to wrap my head around the idea that someone as good looking as him might be attracted to me.”

“Is.Isattracted to you,” Rayna said.

“Okay, fine, he’s attracted to me, but he also has a lot of embarrassment and regret over it,” Emma said.

She shook her head when Rayna started protesting. “No, this isn’t me feeling sorry for myself or seeing something that isn’t here. I know Lucas better than you. Trust me, he regrets what happened on Sunday.”

“You two need to talk it out,” Rayna said.

“I think it’s too late. I think our friendship might be ruined.”

“Give it a few days,” Rayna said, “and then talk to him. Okay?”

Emma nodded, digging her phone out of her pocket when it dinged.

“Is that Lucas?” Rayna asked.

“No. I ordered a knitting aid for his mom to see if it will help her knit with her arthritis, and it’s been shipped.”

They lapsed into silence. The only sounds in the room were Bea’s snoring and the calico cat’s purring.

“Where are the puppies?” Emma asked.

“Foster homes, along with Pete the poodle. You should have seen how cute he was once we got him groomed.”

“That’s good.” Emma stroked Bea’s chunky body. She didn’t want to wallow in self-pity, that wasn’t her style, but she couldn’t get past her regret. Kissing Lucas had been in the top five moments of her life, but had it been worth losing his friendship over? Not in the fucking least. Yet, here she was, about to lose him forever.

“Okay, that’s it,” Rayna said. “You’re coming with me to Grace’s Halloween party on Saturday.”

Emma looked up. “Grace Larken? The woman engaged to Sheriff Walker?”

“Yep, that’s the one. We became friends when we volunteered together.”

“I remember, but I don’t even know Grace.”

“When Grace invited me, she told me to invite you too,” Rayna said.

“No, she didn’t,” Emma said.

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