Page 162 of Dream House
“Why Livy?”
She pulls a face. “Because if I open my mouth to speak to that man, I’m liable to curse his cock.”
I roll my eyes. “While your loyalty is appreciated, it really isn’t his fault.”
“Hmmph.”She steals another swipe and licks her finger before eyeing me. “Have you two talked?”
I shake my head. “I know we need to.”
Pen arches a brow. “He said nothing to you?”
“Oh, he’s texted,” I stress. “I just put him off.”
She studies me for a minute. I watch her make up her mind. “For what it’s worth, I think he’s sorry.”
For hurting me? I have no doubt he is. That’s one of the reasons I can’t be mad at him.
Then there’s the life-altering love. That makes it hard to be mad, too.
“He’s been skulking around here like a Catahoula who ate the prize hen,” she levels. “Like he’s waitin’ to be beaten with a stick.”
I blink rapidly. “Please tell me I’m not a chicken in this analogy.”
Pen shrugs. “I just mean he knows he wronged you. And everybody hates him.”
“I don’t hate him.”
She shrugs again. “I know. That’s why we all hate him for you.”
It surprises me how much it hurts to hear this. “Don’t hate him.”
“Hmmph.”
“Pen.”
She rolls her eyes. “Fine. Maybe I don’t really hate him. Is it so wrong if I let him think I hate him?”
“Yes.”
Pen shakes her head in astonishment. “I don’t know what to say?”
“About what?”
“You’ve always welcomed my hatred of your unworthy suitors.”
The smile I give her is a sad one. “Lark wasn’t unworthy,” I say softly. “He just wasn’t meant to be mine.”
Pen scowls, but I see it’s more than just anger. Sadness is mixed in there too. “His effing loss.”
I rise up on my tiptoes and kiss her on the cheek. “Thank you.”
I appreciate her support. I really do. But I can’t say I agree.
This definitely feels like my loss.
I knewwe’d have to talk, but I figured it would be tonight. After Maisy has gone to bed.
I’m not counting on finding Lark sitting on the hood of his Jeep, waiting for me to return from dropping her off at school.
