Page 91 of Easy Reunion
Chapter 36
Kelsey
“What are you doing for lunch today?” I call Angel up after I get off the phone with Ry. I’m disappointed, but I understand his job is absolutely not as fluid as mine is.
“Nothing. I was debating whether I wanted to call DoorDash to whine about bringing me food.” I smirk, knowing she means Darin.
“Leave your poor husband to work. I’ll pick you up.” I’m already grabbing my purse from Ry’s counter.
“Good. Then we can talk about when you’re moving the rest of your crap into your sexy man’s house.”
I frown as I set the alarm behind me. “We’re not at that point, Angel.”
“I’d argue that. In the meanwhile, come get my ass. I want a muffuletta like more than my next breath.”
Laughing, I slide into the driver’s side of my car. “Be there in ten,” I say before I disconnect.
Pulling out of the driveway, I check to make sure the gate closes behind me. But as I pull away, my thoughts drift back to the last week of missed nights with Ry. “I hope these hours ease up soon,” I murmur aloud. “I miss you, my love.”
Ry said the end of the quarter is always a crazy time around the office as everyone tries to finalize last-minute contracts, which ultimately pass through his office in some way. Whether he’s scouring over high-level summarizations or writing modifications to billion-dollar agreements, he’s exhausted when he stumbles home late each night after going in before I wake each day.
If I didn’t feel the soft press of his kiss against my cheek, then my collar, each morning before he whispers, “I love you, sweetheart,” I might feel more than just a knot of anxiety at the distance growing between us.
“It will be over soon, and things will get back to normal,” I tell myself as Angel slides into the car.
“What will? Is there something wrong with the new book?” Angel leans over, and we exchange kisses in the cramped space. “Can we put the top down?” she asks excitedly.
I laugh before pressing the buttons to do just that. “Lift your arm,” I order her. Handing her one of the extra scarfs I keep in the center console, we both tie our hair back before I put the car in gear. “So, muffulettas?” I ask.
“Yep. Now talk, Kels. What’s up?”
“Nothing.” I evade a slow car as deftly as I hope I do her question. “I’m just working something out.”
“Right. And Lucy has grown a penis overnight.”
I can’t help it; I burst into laughter. “Jesus, I hope not. You bought so many clothes that would look awful if she became a Luc.”
Angel glares at me as I park about a block down from an out-of-the-way place we love. I slide out, then snicker a little as I help my best friend from my coupe.
“Laughing at the preggo lady means you’re buying,” she warns me. But her dark eyes are sparkling with mirth.
“Like I wasn’t going to anyway.”
“I’m glad you called. This was a good idea.” Angel says something else, but I can’t hear her over the roaring in my head. She steps closer and lays a hand on my arm. “Kels? What is it?”
With a bright smile I pray she can’t see through, I say, “Nothing. I guess I’m just a bit dehydrated. It’s humid.”
She snorts. “That’s because you’re expending extra calories banging your man lately. We need to adjust your nutritional intake for that.” Angel starts going off about protein and hydration while I nod, mentally noting I may not need to make the changes she’s suggesting.
Because Ry and I haven’t made love in more than a week with his busy work schedule, but now I wonder if that has less to do with work and more to do with the blonde he’s cozied up with in the back booth.
Stumbling behind Angel, every step I take feels like I’m crushing my own heart beneath my shoes. Finally, I have to stop and grip the handrail running along the half wall to keep myself standing because the pain is trying to drive me to my knees. And I won’t let it; I’ll never let my mind make myself doubt my self-worth.
Even if the man I’m in love with is making that next to an impossibility.
Unlike the strain he’s been wearing on his face whenever he’s been around me the last few days, he’s chatting with the woman easily. As if they’re old friends. Or old lovers, I think painfully. Why would he lie to me about being swamped working?
“Kels? You okay?” Angel asks me worriedly. The server guiding us to our table has paused, waiting for me to catch up.
