Page 112 of Taking the Pitch
Once he leaves, I speak first. “What do you mean,technicallystill married?”
“Him and his wife have been separated for two years. He filed for divorce at the beginning of this year, but she’s refusing to sign the papers.”
Hazel puts a hand to her chest. “Oh, thank God. For a minute, I thought my best friend was a home-wrecker.”
“No, but it still feels…weird.”
“So, are you going to see him again? You said he’s an ex-player for the Silverbacks. So does that mean he lives here?” I ask.
Charlie shakes her head. “We both agreed it was a vacation fling. Plus, he lives in Washington, so at least I won’t bump into him by accident.”
“Holy fuck,” Hazel exclaims while looking at her phone, getting more dirty looks from people.
“Hazel,” Charlie hisses. “You’re going to get us kicked out.”
Hazel turns her phone, showing us what she’s freaking out about. On the screen is a very attractive, clearly older man with a close shaved salt and pepper beard and ice-blue eyes. He’s wearing a black fitted long-sleeved shirt that looks like it’s been painted on over hisverydefined muscle and baseball pants. To top off the already fine as hell image, the man also has a tattoo on the back of his hand.
“Woah, who is that?” I ask.
“Charlie’slover,” Hazel teases.
“I should have just kept my mouth shut,” Charlie grumbles, shoving a slice of French toast in her mouth.
“No, you shouldn’t have,” I tell her, taking a bite of my bacon. “Teasing aside. I’m glad you had some adult fun on vacation. It’s about time you let loose a little.”
“You make it sound like I never have fun.”
“You don’t,” Hazel and I respond at the same time.
Charlie points her fork at me. “I went out with you two on Halloween.”
Hazel rolls her eyes. “When was the last time you had ‘between the sheets’ fun,beforeyour vacation?”
Charlie pauses and squints her eyes in thought.
“If you have to think that hard, too long is the answer,” Hazel says.
“Whatever, enough about me. What else is new with you two?”
“I moved in with Judd and we bought property next to his brother’s place and are going to build a house,” I say nonchalantly
Charlie drops her fork onto her plate. “What?”
Hazel raises her fork. “Knew that already.”
Charlie looks at me, throwing her hand towards Hazel. “You told Hazel before me.”
I lift a shoulder. “It’s really not something I wanted to tell you through text. So, I’m telling you now.”
“You could have done a video chat.”
“It all sorta happened fast and when you were out at sea, so I just decided to wait until you got back.” I place a hand over Charlie’s. “I didn’t mean to leave you out of the loop. I just wanted to tell you in person.”
Charlie smiles and turns her hand slightly to squeeze my fingers. “I know. I’m just being sensitive. Must be the jet lag. I’m so happy for you, Millie. You deserve nothing but happiness.”
I squeeze her hand back, then turn to Hazel. “What about you? Anything new since we last talked?”
Hazel shrugs and finishes off her second glass of mimosa. “I broke up with Jason.”
