Page 35 of One Last Time
Kristin bursts out with laughter. “Oh, I can only imagine! My friends are definitelyinteresting.”
She fills me in on how they met in high school and the way they’ve kept their friendship intact through the years. It’s insane to me that they’ve been able to keep in touch the way they have. My best friend from high school only hits me up when he wantscash.
“You’re closest with Heather, though?” I question because their dynamic bafflesme.
“Umm.” She bites her thumbnail. “I don’t know how to answer that. We’re all close in different ways. Heather and Nicole are really close and Danielle has been my person mostly. Since my separation, it’sweird. . .”
“Why?”
Why the fuck do I care so damnmuch?
“Danielle and her husband have been having issues for a while. If I had to guess, it scares her that Scott and I couldn’t find a way. Then her husband and my . . . well, ex-husband-to-be are close friends. It’s put a strain on our friendship alittle.”
Scott. Even his name is stupid. He’s clearly a fucking moron for letting her go or saying she was anything but beautiful. I shouldn’t ask her, but I’m dying to know. “Why did you guys...endthings?”
Kristin’s eyes fill with sadness, and I hate that I put itthere.
Heather kept calling him Asshole as if it were his name, just Asshole. I’m assuming he’s a fucking tool, and I’m waiting forconfirmation.
“Our working dinner is taking aturn. . .”
I smile. “I’m just wondering why, if you’re the best lay of some guy’s lifetime, your husband could walk away. You know sex is key to a healthy relationship. I figure either you’re lying about the good in bed part or your ex is theissue.”
Kristin covers her face with her hand. “It had nothing to do with that, and I’d totally be fine with you forgetting everything I’ve ever said since wemet.”
“Doubtful.”
There’s nothing about last night I’m likely toforget.
She shifts in her seat. “You know, I’ve always wondered why someone hasn’t invented a magic pill that can make you forget things you don’t want to remember? Or give you the ability to eat any food you want and not gain weight. With all the smart people in the world, how has this nothappened?”
I glance over at her and laugh. “I have noidea.”
“These are real-life issues. Oh!” Her voice shifts to excitement. “I love thissong!”
Kristin turns up the radio and starts to hum softly. For a moment, it’s as if she forgets I’m here and belts out the lyrics. I’m stopped at the red light, and I can’t keep my eyes off her. She looks free, happy, and lost in the song. She sings louder and bobs herhead.
The one thing Heather kept repeating is how broken Kristin is. I’ve yet to see that in her. All I see is someone who makes my heart race. I watch her letting go to the music, hoping the light never changes. I could stare at her like this all night. The song hits the chorus and as the note escapes, her eyes fly open, and she covers hermouth.
“You have a beautiful voice,” I say, wanting her to keepgoing.
She scoffs and then laughs at herself. “I’m such a dork. I can’teven.”
“You’re adorable.” I go for honesty because I doubt she’ll believe itanyway.
The light changes and I can’t see her reaction, but the sound of her groan causes me to grin. I like that I keep her slightly off-kilter.
“Why do I continue to embarrass myself with you? It’s like I forget to benormal.”
I pull into the parking lot of the restaurant, if I can call it that, and place my hand on her leg. “I like that you feel comfortable enough around me to sing. Not many people are that secure. They act like they think I want them tobe.”
Kristin’s blue eyes meet mine. “I’m not usually like this,” she admits. “I’m the uptight one out of myfriends.”
“Don’t be anyone else but who you are, Kristin. There’s nothing sexier than a woman who’s confident. Trustme.”
She clears her throat, and I watch the walls go up. “Ready toeat?”
I’ll let her win this one, but the game is far from over. “Sure.”
