Page 5 of The Widower's Girlfriend
Crud, I forgot for a minute he was in the cab with me. I plaster on a smile—I’m good at faking it—and turn to him. “Yeah, my friends are kind of hyper. They just want to go, go, go!”
He doesn’t smile back, just studies me as I keep that smile in place. What is he even doing here with me? I nearly swallowed my tongue when he hopped up and wanted to share the taxi with me. I’d made a total fool of myself all morning in front of him, and yet here he was, purposely signing up to spend more time with a total klutz. It didn’t make sense, which made me more nervous than I should be. That and he was crazy handsome.
“Hmm. I have some energetic friends like that, but they’re still kind.”
My eyes widen and my cheek muscles fail me as the smile slides off my face. How could he have guessed that? “Did you hear my conversation?”
He frowns, the two lines between his eyes deepening. “No, but I heard your end of it.”
That makes me feel slightly better, but still exposed. I’m not proud of how my friends treat me, and I’m certainly not happy about it, but hearing him judge my friendships when he and I are perfect strangers doesn’t sit well with me. “They’re not that bad, really. You’d have to know them.”
His frown lines smooth out and his lips hint at a smile. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
Satisfied he dropped it, I nod and swivel to look outside. I mean, he’s not telling me anything I don’t already tell myself. But I’ve known these three girls since high school. At what point do you give up and sever a ten-plus-year friendship? There’s history there, and inside jokes, and a shared background that just wasn’t repeatable now that I’m an adult. Besides, everyone deserves a second chance. Sometimes a third or fourth. Right?
I spin around again, my indignation making my mouth speak when I should have just stayed quiet and left well enough alone. “You know, they were there for me in high school. I wasn’t one of the rich kids with the name brands and a fancy car when I turned sixteen. Those girls took me under their wing and made me one of their own, which is pretty much what every insecure teenager wants in high school. So yeah, they might be a little bratty now that we’re adults, but I owe them, okay?”
My tirade ends and silence fills the cab, even the driver not wanting to draw any attention to himself in this argument. Walker is staring me down, his brown eyes darting across my face, absorbing my words. His face is serious, but he seems to be really listening to me, a quality that’s rare among the people I hang out with. I still regret explaining myself to him. He’s a virtual stranger, so why am I dumping all my personal drama on him?
“Sounds like they played a key part during that time of your life.” Walker nods yet somehow I know he’s not done. “I’m a firm believer that we should always be choosing who to surround ourselves with. And I also believe that someone right for you ten years ago isn’t necessarily right for you today. Some relationships grow together over the years and some break apart. Trying to cling to a friendship that isn’t right for you now does you a grave disservice.”
Now it’s my turn to absorb his words, thinking he has a good point. I slump a bit in the seat, the fight leaving me. “I hear what you’re saying, and it’s not far off from what I’ve been saying in my own head. But it’s easier said than done. How do you cut off a long-term friendship like that? At what point is enough enough?”
Walker tilts his head. “Only you can decide that. But if I may, I would suggest you check in with how you feel when you’re around them. True friends should lift you up, not make you feel badly about yourself.”
I have to admit, it’s not bad advice. Giving him a cheeky grin, I ask, “What are you? A psychologist or something?”
He barks out a laugh. “No, not a psychologist. Just someone who’s had to do a lot of soul searching.”
Before I can ask him what he means by that, my phone rings again. The ringtone makes me think of my precious little patients, but the caller ID makes me cringe. Diana’s calling back.
“Hi, Diana.” I bring the phone to my ear and hope Walker can’t hear her voice. She’s nearly shouting now, talking over wind noise in the background.
“Jay, we couldn’t wait. We’re taking an Uber to a little spa a few blocks over. The boys booked us three massages. Isn’t that super sweet? Oh my gosh, workaholic, get a husband already so you can join in on the fun. We’ll see you after our massage, okay?”
“Um, okay, I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Gotta go, bye!”
I put my phone back in my bag and roll my eyes. “Okay, they’ve definitely gotten worse over the years.”
Walker chuckles and the rumble of his laugh rolls through me like a tangible thing, warming up everywhere the conversation with my friends left me cold.
“Get a husband already?” Walker leans closer, his eyes dancing by repeating my friend’s ridiculous comment.
I feel the blush steal across my cheeks. “Oh, you heard that, did you?”
“I think the car next to us heard that, yeah.”
Rubbing my hand over my face, I sneak a peek at him. “So...I guess that conversation makes my decision a little clearer.”
He lifts his eyebrows. “Hard to believe they used to be kind and considerate. Maybe their husbands are a bad influence?”
I shake my head. “No, they’re actually pretty cool guys. I think college just sent us all on different paths. I was studying hard while they were partying hard. And then by the time I graduated, work took over and I rarely saw them. That’s why we made up the annual girls’ trip: to be certain we all make time for each other, even when life gets busy.”
The driver honks his horn and mutters under his breath. Looking outside, it seems we’re stuck in a bit of a traffic jam. Secretly, I’m pleased to get some extra time to talk to this captivating stranger-not-stranger.
Walker has an expression on his face I can’t place. “So, no husband in the works to appease your friends?”
