Page 30 of Theo
"Yeah?"She kept her focus on her phone.
Before I could ask, Stella and Amy reached the table with our burgers."Where the hell is mine?"Hunter asked.
"I told you, you've had your fucking meat quota for the week," Amy said.She was a third the size of her husband, but she was totally in charge.
Dad and Colt had a good laugh over the meat quota comment."Bro, you've got a meat quota?"Colt asked with a laugh.
"Is that like a third of a cow, or is it measured in burgers and steaks?"Dad asked.
"It's a little of both," Amy explained."The doctor said his cholesterol numbers are heading straight to the moon."
"There was no mention of the moon," Hunter argued."And I need a second opinion on all that cholesterol crap."
"Dad, it's a blood test, and it gives specific numbers," Stella explained."No second opinion needed, and Mom showed me your lab results.She's right.Straight to the moon."
Hunter looked incredulously at Amy."Why the fuck are you showing her my personal lab stuff?"
Amy rolled her eyes."I needed her to explain all the numbers and tests, and frankly, after seeing them, I'm about to take out a million-dollar life insurance policy on you."
"Great, make it two million and bring me a damn burger while you're at it.In fact, make it a double.If I'm no longer working under a quota, I'm goin' with all guns blazing."
After the sideshow, something Amy and Hunter were good at, I had to grab Jules' attention again."Hey, Jules."I elbowed her.
She lowered her phone."Stop with the elbow, already.What do you want?"Her brows smoothed."Oh wait, I know what you want.Well, I've got bad news, my friend.Lacey has all but disappeared off the face of the earth.Well, not the earth, of course, but she hasn't posted anything since the wedding.Not even a tiny morsel of info like the honeymoon was spectacular or we just got the keys to our new mega-mansion.She ghosted everyone apparently.Maybe she's too busy being the important wife of Dr.George Plunkett."She laughed lightly."That name always cracks me up."
Cormac set a beer down in front of her."Finally, shit, did you grow the hops first?"she asked and took a sip that ended with a satisfied sigh."You're not still pining over her, are you?"Jules looked at me and frowned."Oh shit, you are.Of course you are, otherwise you wouldn't have asked.All I can say is I think it's time to move on."
"This from a girl who carried her baby blanket right up until the second that she started first grade," I teased.
She tilted her head."Really, you're going to drag Bigsby the Blanket into this conversation?"Her brown eyes rounded."Hey, maybe we could just get you a baby blanket to carry around."She reached for one of my fries, but I blocked her."All right.I'm sorry I told you to move on and to get a baby blanket."Her hand shot across, and she snatched up two fries."Hmm, Aunt Amy makes the best damn fries."
I picked one up and nodded in agreement before plowing into the burger.I had no idea what to think about Lacey disappearing from social media.I was relieved not to see honeymoon photos.At the same time, I worried that things had gone to shit for her.After all, for two glorious fucking hours, she'd walked away from it all.I would never forget the moment when she pushed her hand into mine, so I could take her away.Just like I'd never forget when she walked obediently over to that SUV and climbed inside.It was the last time I saw her.
This time Jules elbowed me."Hey, cheer up, old pal.After all, the last time I posted photos of you after a bike race there were at least two marriage proposals and three women begging to have your baby.Even though Lacey is out of the picture, at least you've still got it."She looked at me and shook her head."Don't know whatitis, but apparently other women see it."Jules put her arm around my shoulder and gave me a squeeze."Love you."
"Yeah, yeah, love you too, Jules."
EIGHTEEN
LACEY
I'd finished working with my four current clients and logged off the computer.The apartment we were renting, while looking for a house, overlooked a massive green park that included bike trails and a lake for kayaking.George had gotten a position as head of cardiology at a big hospital, and he worked endless hours.I was thankful for that.We were three months into our farce of a marriage, which meant I had a year and nine months to go before all of the Plunkett's social circle learned that I was such a basket case George couldn't take it anymore.I was sure Joan would finish what she started with her evil plan.One good thing had come from it though.We hardly ever saw or spoke to his mom.She'd always doted on George, but it seemed once we tied the knot, she'd achieved her main goal, that her only son had gotten married and was living a perfectly dull, normal life with his wife.Kids were out of the question, of course, which was fine with me.George and I never slept together anyhow.He was a terrible lover, and frankly, bad sex was even worse than no sex at all.He wasn't the least bit interested in me or my life, and I couldn't have cared less about his.Still, surprisingly, it wasn't altogether unpleasant.We even managed to have decent conversations and the occasional laugh as if we were just good buddies instead of husband and wife.I could never figure out why he hadn't put up more of a fight about being forced into this marriage, but he seemed content with our setup.He was far too busy to be bothered.When he wasn't at work or on call, he was out golfing or hiking with his best friend since medical school, Gabe Netherland.Gabe was an orthopedic surgeon and they now worked at the same hospital.
I half expected George to have an affair or start seeing someone on the side.I even suggested it at one point, but he said he was too busy.He also liked to tell me that I'd ruined his view on romance and love.As for me, I kept myself occupied with work, bike rides and the occasional lunch with friends or coworkers.I'd also taken up plant-based cooking, something my cardiologist husband approved of greatly.All in all, life could have been worse.It could have been better too.My freedom was still months away, but that gave me time to make a plan for my future.The only problem with that was every time I visualized my future, Theo Stone was standing in it with his heartbreaking smile.
I grabbed a bowl of leftover rice and veggies from the fridge and walked to the window.Unseasonably hot temperatures had brought people out of their apartments.They swarmed the lush green lawns and cool blue lake in the park.After lunch, I decided to slather on some sunscreen and take a walk around the lake.
Deciding the sunblock wasn't enough, I pulled on my straw hat and sunglasses.The heat hit like a blast from a furnace as I reached the sidewalk.I could feel the heat through the soles of my walking shoes.I reached the path and stayed to the right to avoid bikes in the center lane.A goose waddled next to me on the path.I pulled out my phone to snap a picture.The bird stood proudly with her bright orange beak in the air as if she knew she was being photographed.
I tapped the screen to scroll through my social media for new recipes and stopped in the middle of the path when Theo's smiling face popped up.He'd won another race.Jules had posted the picture.He was holding a gold trophy, and he looked incredibly happy.I would have given anything to be standing there in the crowd, waiting to throw my arms around him for a victory kiss, but it seemed that the universe had worked its hardest to keep us separate.It wasn't in the cards for Theo and me, no matter how often my daydreams tried to convince me otherwise.
I liked the photo and quickly stuck my phone in my pocket.I'd stopped posting anything on my own accounts after the wedding.I had nothing to share, nothing to add to the social-sphere that I considered important or relevant.
I continued along the path.The city had set up brightly colored shade umbrellas, and most of them were occupied with mothers trying to give their little ones a respite from the hot sun, students reading or working on laptop projects and lovers, using the big shady umbrella for a little privacy.
I reached the end of the trail where pedestrians had the choice to go right, toward the road and shops or left to the kayak rental kiosk on the lake.The sun was just brutal enough to urge me to forgo the choice and turn around to head back.As I swung around, I spotted a flash of electric blue.It was the custom color of George's Porsche.I always thought the color was a bit too much for a Porsche and for a doctor, but he loved it.I glanced around to see if I spotted George's tall head somewhere in the park or on the sidewalk near the car, but there was no sign of him.
A smile formed on my lips as I considered the possibility that George had come to the park to meet a lover.Maybe he'd been having an affair, after all, and not wanting to spark any speculation or gossip at the hospital, he'd been arranging to meet her at the park.
