Page 44 of An Unfinished Memory

I pushed out the door. Jennings was opening his dusty pickup door. “Jennings?”

He glanced in my direction, hope lighting up his face.

Ugh, this sucked. “Hey, I wanted to clear the air. You’re a really nice guy?—”

He barked out a laugh and took his ball cap off. “No need to say more.”

Guilt left an acrid taste in my mouth. “Will the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ line be better? Because it’s true.”

His chuckle lacked humor. “I’m the commondenominator when girls say that. Don’t worry. Ain’t nothing I haven’t heard before.”

“You’re a good guy, and I really hope you find someone who sees it.”

The corners of his eyes crinkled. “That makes two of us. See ya around, Sutton.”

He swung into his pickup, and I walked away so I didn’t stand there watching his taillights fade in the setting sun. I’d look lovelorn when I was really inspecting why I was content with living alone and having stealthy sex with Wilder.

Inside, the girls waited for me. Aggie wore the same supportive but pinched expression. Tova shifted in her chair, but that was likely due to her belly pressing on her bladder.

Vienne’s eyes danced with questions. “So?” she asked in a singsong voice. “What was that about?”

“Nosy?” I said and slid into my chair. I had to drive home, or I’d chug the rest of the pitcher to get my mind back to a blank state.

“Yes. So?” she prompted again.

“I told him he’s nice and all?—”

The girls all groaned.

“Oh no, you gave it to him hard but in all the wrong ways.” Tova lifted her ginger ale. “Here’s to not stringing him along.”

“Was it just Jennings?” Aggie asked. “Or are you not ready?”

Many divorced women would’ve been dating by now. I might not be stringing Jennings along, but I’d have to lead my friends in a different direction to keep them from asking deeper questions. “I’m not attracted to him.”

I wasn’t, but I had a fierce attraction to one other man.

“If that’s the case, I have a proposition for you.” Vienne picked up the pitcher of beer and topped off my barely touched mug. “I’ve been too nervous to ask, but since you didn’t say you weren’t ready…” The dread was back, eating a hole through my stomach lining. “Jake asked me out, and he thought?—”

“DoctorJake?” Aggie asked, aghast. “You’re not thinking of going out with him.”

Vienne ticked a finger up. “Going out, not dating. A girl has her needs. But he has a brother, and he asked if I’d want to get Sutton, and we’d all go out.”

My lungs crystallized into an ice cube. “Like a double date?”

Vienne gave a firm nod. “Yes.”

“Just the saucy goodness this pregnant lady needs,” Tova said.

Aggie glanced away. Her expression was neutral, like she wanted to make sure she didn’t influence my decision.

I opened my mouth. Shut it again.

“I know.” Vienne held her hands up. “It’s Dr. Jake. But I know what he’s like, and from what I’ve heard, his brother’s really nice. Hot, too. It’ll be fun.”

Fun wasn’t the word I’d use. I grew up watching daytime soaps on TV. Why did it feel like I was living one?

Wilder

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