Page 93 of Between Now and Forever
“I’ve said it a million times: men are simple creatures,” Della says. “But it’s not because they’re emotionless barbarians. It’s because most women don’t understand them. You’re fighting or there’s a communication issue or whatever it is, and you withhold sex because you don’t feel connected to him. Or he stops fucking you because he’s pissed or hurt, and then he stops feeling connected.”
“Peter and I haven’tfucked, as you so eloquently put it, since before I got Botox and stretch marks,” Cricket says, her jaw locked. “That puts us having fun sex at a solid sixteen years ago.”
Scottie’s wide eyes meet mine over the glasses of lemonade.
I didn’t think Peter and Cricket had a wild love life, but I didn’t expect it to be nonexistent either. She always paints a picture of a healthy sex life and seems satisfied. She even says they have sex several times a week. So, this? This abject desolation written on Cricket’s face? It’s as shocking as it is heartbreaking.
My heart aches for the loneliness Cricket must be feeling. I know it well.But a certain handsome, somewhat irritating man is helping me fix that.
Della stands. “Where is Peter now?”
“Golfing.” She spits out the word. “Why?”
“We’re going to your house to pick out the sexiest lingerie you own.” Della looks Cricket up and down. “Or we’re going to go buy some.”
Cricket’s face grows red, but she surprisingly doesn’t object.
“Then you’re going to get hold of his assistant and find out when he has an opening in his schedule,” Della says. “You’re going to have her pencil in a fake name for a full hour.”
Cricket swallows so hard I can hear it.
“You’re going to wear that with a trench coat over it,” Della says, grinning mischievously. “And surprise him at work.”
“I can’t do that,” Cricket says, squeaking.
“You can.And you will,” Della says. “Make that connection. Show him what he’s missing—what you need.”
The room is still for a long second. Then Cricket blows out a quick breath.
“You know what, let’s do it. Make me a man-eater like you, Della—with all due respect,” Cricket says.
Scottie and I laugh.
We file out the door, Scottie locking up behind us. As we make our way down the sidewalk, my mind begins to wander.
And it wanders to my next-door neighbor.
If things got serious between us, would he fight for me? Would he go to the lengths Cricket is going to keep the passion between us?
I smile to myself.
From what I know, I think he might.
And I think I own a trench coat.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
JAY
This is officially your longest relationship, right?” Lark asks, his voice filling the cab of my truck through the speakers. “I’m going off Della’s terminology here, so God help me.”
I chuckle, pausing at an intersection to let a jogger pass safely.
The evening is perfect, with a clear sky and gentle breeze. It made work today so much easier than dealing with the cloudy, off-and-on rain showers of the last couple of days. The sunroom at the farmhouse is starting to take shape. As long as the owner doesn’t add on a bunch of work, it’ll be a great project.
“Yeah,” I say, turning right after the jogger has cleared the road. “This is the longest I’ve spent with a woman in quite a while.”
“And you have no thoughts about getting the hell out of there?”
