Page 206 of Dangerous Encore
"Can I quote you on that?"Drewasks.
Kara shakes her head. "We better hurry. Margaret gets c-r-a-n-k-y fast when we leave her alone and I'm starving." She blows Bella a kiss. "Thank youforever."
"Sure." Bella nods goodbye to the happycouple.
Kara waves hello to me. "Sorry. I'd love totalk,but—"
"You're starving?" Ioffer.
"You buy that?" Joel laughs. "I think it's more s-e-x."
Karablushes.
Drewshrugs.
He'shappy.
Used to be the two of us were toe-to-toe in the moodiest mother fuckercompetition.
I wouldn't have wished a marriage to Drew on my worstenemy.
But he'ssmiling.
Atease.
Looking at his wife and daughters like the happiest person in theworld.
They nod a final goodbye then pull the doorclosed.
I sink back into thecouch.
Bella nods to the practice room turned nursery. "I'll put her down." She looks to Alexandria. "You want to help, Alexa?" She looks to Joel. "Can you watchMargaret?"
"Of course."Joelnods.
The kid follows Bella intotheroom.
Joel watches his wifewistfully.
It's about time for me toleave.
And figure outmyshit.
Everybody else is moving on.Growingup.
And I'm asking the womanIlove—
I'm not asking her shit. I'm not even talkingtoher.
I need tofixthat.
