Page 4 of When It's Us
I point a finger at her through the screen. “First of all, I’m not indecisive. I make more decisions than I know what to do with.”
Shit. That was unexpectedly harsh. Why am I being so defensive?
Wren cocks a brow at me as if to say,‘Are you finished?’
“I’m sorry. I’m an asshole.” I huff out a dramatic sigh. “Okay. Hit me with it,” I say, because she’s right. She and I have never sugar-coated shit, so what kind of friend would I be if I could dish out advice, but not at least listen to hers?
“Ever since you had the twins, you’ve been living for someone else. After Peter, you…closed off. You put on this brave face, but it’s like you’re afraid to put yourself out there. And babe, you deserve to have a life other than those boys. You deserve to be Ginger again.”
And I hate that she’s right. Because part of me doesn’t even remember who that is anymore.
“You sound like my mother.”
“Normally, I’d kick your ass for saying that,” she says pointedly, “but, in this case, I think she’s right. You haven’t been out with anyone in months.”
Twelve months. Not asingledate in twelve fucking months.
She lowers her voice conspiratorially. “When was the last time you had sex? And I’m not talking about your drawer of many friends.”
“Hey, I happen to love my drawer of many friends,” I tell her, “and I don’t date because even if I had a steady sitter for the boys, the guys I meet are nothing but self-absorbed man children who care more about their investment portfolios than anything else and couldn’t find a clitoris if you gave them a road map.”
Except one.
Nope. Nope. Nope. Don’t think about him. He’s still a self-absorbed man child. And okay, yes, not only did hefindmy clit, he knew exactly what to do with it when he did. But still. He’s…annoying. Even if he’s sexy and extremely well-endowed.
Wren laughs, but she has zero idea how hard it is to put yourself out there knowing you’ll likely be disappointed. She got lucky. After her relationship with her ex ended, she reconnected with her first love, and it’s been amazing to see her and Hank build something new together.
“You’re a great mom, babe, but you deserve to have a life along with taking care of your boys. They need to see you happy, too.”
“Yeah, well, you of all people arenottelling me to put myself before my kids, Miss Twin Super Mom.”
She shakes her head. “No, no, I’m not. They’re still little. But I have Hank. We have a life together. Who do you have?”
“I have you,” I say without hesitation.
She hits me with another look.
I shrug. “What? I do. You’re my best friend.”
“Okay, yes, but I’m notthere,” she chides softly. “Forgive me for saying this but you need to get a life, Ginger.”
“Okay,ouch,” I grumble and Wren grins apologetically.
“I’m sorry but sometimes the truth hurts. You have to start living for you, too.”
“I can live for myself when the twins are eighteen.”
The look she gives me is deadpan. “Babe, twelve years is a long time. What about after they’re all grown up? You gonna move to Montana and sleep on my couch?”
“Is that an option?” I mutter.
What is wrong with me? Why am I such a whiny bitch lately? I’m starting to irritate myself.
Wren smiles but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “You know you’re welcome here any time. Youandthe boys. But until then…I think you should seriously consider that road trip. It could be really good for you, and as far as I know, Hutch doesn’t have an investment portfolio.”
The swallow of beer I just took betrays me and goes down my windpipe.
Every year, her brother-in-law, Hutch, takes a road trip. And this year, he happens to be an hour and a half from here. She’s been bothering me for two days to hitch a ride with him back to Timber Forge. It would mean leaving for my trip a week early.
