Page 43 of The Boyfriend Boycott
“You’re a romantic, Marla. A rare breed these days, it seems,” I say, and though I know her assessment of Spencer is accurate, all I can think about at this moment is that I want to give that to her. I want us to have a passionate, soft love. One that she cherishes, even if it doesn’t last. God, I want it to last.
“That’s not the word my husband would use, I’m sure.” Her tone is somewhat exasperated as she says it. “Ex-husband now, I guess. I don’t know how I’ll go back to living without Roy. The house will seem so empty now.”I’m listening, but I have my back turned while I crack two more eggs into a bowl and whisk them briskly.
“Spencer told me you live in wine country. The Okanagan?” I ask, still occupied with breakfast preparations.
“Yes, Peachland.”
“It’s beautiful there. I went once on vacation as a teen, and I’ve always wanted to go back.”
“It is. Every day I wake up and think about how lucky I am.” I can hear a wistfulness in her voice.
“What’s your favourite thing about living there?” I crack two more eggs into a bowl and grind some pepper into it.
“What don’t I love about it?” She chuckles in a way that sounds almost relaxed, an unfiltered version of her. “I love having my coffee on the porch and looking out over the lake. I love getting up on summer mornings and going for a swim.”
“That sounds like a dream, really. When did you move there?” I inquire, pouring the eggs into the pan with a sizzle.
“Oh, several years ago now. After my second divorce. Wow, that makes me sound like such a mess. It was about a year before I met Roy. Now I can’t imagine being there without him,”Marla says, and although she and Spencer look alike, and behave alike, this is what makes them fundamentally different. Spencer has a hard time imagining her life with a man in it, while Marla can’t live without one.
“I think you can. You bought that house foryou. You built your life foryou.Sure, it will be an adjustment. But you’ll adapt, with or without Roy. I think you’ll land on your feet because you created the life you love before Roy even came into it.”
Marla regards me, her face pensive.
“See, this is why I like you, Grady.”
“Why do we like Grady?” Spencer’s groggy voice interrupts us as she comes around the corner to join us in the kitchen. She’s still in my T-shirt, I notice, which does something funny to my chest. She’s bleary-eyed, and her hair is mussed, just the way I like it.
“A multitude of reasons. I’m just a likeable guy,” I answer. Spencer beelines to the coffee pot, and I slide a mug in front of her, which she takes as if it came out of nowhere and she isn’t going to question it. Not a morning person, noted. “Your omelet is almost ready,” I add, planting a soft kiss on her temple. She responds with a soft, sleepy smile.
“Thank you. I’m sure it is a perfect omelet, but right now I just need caffeine in an IV drip, please.” She shuffles over and takes the bar stool next to her mom.
“You’ll have to go to Ally’s for that, I’m afraid. Here we just serve coffee in a mug.” Spencer flashes me aha-halook.
“What have you two been yammering on about out here? If you think you’re quiet by the way, neither of you are.” Spencer’s comment makes me wonder if she heard our conversation, and if so, how much. Not that it matters. Whatever I said to Marla I would say in front of Spencer in a heartbeat. Though, I can’t help but worry that I’m coming on too strong with her, that today might be the day I push her away.
“We were just talking about the cocktail party tonight. Your mom is excited about helping you with your errands today,” I answer.
“Oh, is she?” Spencer says through a smile, though her teeth are gritted.
“I am. I am so excited. Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it. Put me to work.” Marla sounds giddy. Whether it’s because she needs to take her mind off Roy, or because she gets to spend time with daughter, I’m unsure.
“Great,” Spencer says, and her tone is less sarcastic than I anticipated. “We have a lot of ground to cover today.”
“You can take the car,” I offer, knowing that Spencer doesn’t have wheels other than the ones attached to her home. “Oh—” I run down to the entryway, grab my spare set of keys off the hook, and come back to join them in the kitchen, taking the stairs two at a time. “Take a house key. It’s yours if you’re going to be staying here now.”
I hand it to Spencer, who takes it from my hand gingerly. She doesn’t put it in her purse, she holds it tight in her palm while she finishes her breakfast, like she’s afraid she might lose it. Like it’s precious to her.
“I guess we’ll meet you at the bar later?” Marla clarifies.
“Yeah, I’ve got a few things to sort out today and then I’ll head over. The boys will be over soon to see if I can make servers out of them.”
“Good luck with that.” Spencer scoffs, and I’ll need it, knowing my brothers.
Spencer gobbles up her omelet, plants a kiss on my cheek, and heads off to take a shower in my ensuite. It takes everything in me not to go and get in with her.
“I’m up here!”I call from upstairs as I hear Hudson and Jett come through the front door. They’re anything but quiet when they’re together, and their footsteps on the few stairs leading to the open-concept living space sound reminiscent of the thunder from last night.
“What’s Spencer’s van doing in your driveway?” Hudson asks. As he and Jett come lumbering into the kitchen, I see him pause and assess the mess I’ve left from breakfast, the three plates still on the counter. “Were you cooking herbreakfast?Like, as in, she stayed the night last night?”
