Page 83 of My Scorned Best Friend

She laughs and I squeeze her into my hold, kissing the top of her head over and over.

“I’m surprised you didn’t come out swinging,” I say.

Her laughter vibrates in my chest. “I’m not as aggressive as I used to be.”

We stay like that for a few minutes, both of us probably thinking about the time she did come over here swinging when she thought I didn’t vote for her for student president. Damn rumors in high school.

“Does you being here mean you took the day off?”

She backs away from my embrace. “No. I have to go back. But I want to go congratulate Hank before I leave.”

I place my hands on her face and bend down to kiss her. It’s short and sweet and perfect, just like her.

We walk out to the patio, where my dad is on a ladder and Marla is yelling at him. She grows quiet when we walk out.

“Everything good?” she asks.

“Yeah,” I answer. “Dad, Marla’s right. Get off the ladder. I’ll do it.”

“I’ve been staring at this piece of wood on the pergola. It’s going to come down and crash into one of the little ones. Spring is coming soon.”

I look at all the snow still on the ground. “I’m not sure about that. Come down so Clara can congratulate you on being in remission. She’s gotta go back to work.”

My dad smiles at Clara and gets down off the ladder. While he’s busy with Clara, Marla and I manage to take the ladder. She hauls it to the garage, laughing as if we got away with something.

“My son treating you well?” my dad asks.

“Always,” Clara answers, and we share a look because that may not always have been the case, but from this day forward it is. “Congratulations. Now don’t go putting your life in danger during the winter months. You need to recover from those treatments. Need another book?”

He shakes his head. “No, I’m good. Thanks, Clara.”

They hug and more tears fill her eyes, but at least they’re from happiness.

Of course, how could she not be thinking of how the treatments didn’t work on her mom as well as they did for Hank? Then again, knowing Clara, she’s just happy Hank is still here and healthy again.

“I’m going to walk Clara out, then we need to talk,” I tell my dad.

He nods because he knows what I need to talk about.

“I’ll get Marla,” he says. “Have a great day, Clara, and if he does anything, you come to me. I’ll handle him.”

I roll my eyes. Clara laughs while I swing my arm around her shoulders, walking her on the shoveled path around the house to her car.

“Hurry home,” I say after she opens her car door.

“Five o’clock as always, antsy pants. You might have to come up with a hobby during the off-season.”

I chuckle. “Or we could be traveling all over the world…”

She stares at me extra long but kisses my lips. “Gotta go.”

She slides into the car and shuts the door before starting the engine. I wave goodbye and head back into the house.

Marla already has the jewelry box on the counter when I step into the kitchen.

“Are you hungry?” she asks, taking some things out of the fridge.

“No. I just… well… I really want her to have the piece now instead of waiting until the wedding.”

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