Page 19 of Starting Back
“I can’t believe I just told my brother that.” I cupped my hand over my eyes as if they could see my humiliation.
“He’s fine and not important right now. I need a picture…for…safety reasons.”
“Really, Peyton?”
I cracked up when she shushed my brother.
“We met at the bar by the pool. He picked my drink for me when I couldn’t decide. Then told me he was watching me the whole afternoon and wanted to know why I looked so against having fun.”
“Ah, I love a good meet-cute.” I cringed when she squealed. “Go on.”
“You and your romance novels.” I sighed before I continued. “I’ll give you the short version. We saw a movie on the beach, followed by a dip in a sort of private pool, and he’s picking me up at ten to take me out for the day.”
“Sort of private pool, huh?”
“Yes,” I sighed. “And if you want to keep talking about this, please go somewhere my brother isn’t.”
“Say no more. I’ll head into the bedroom if you give me one minute.”
I smiled, picturing her still-thin arms and legs with that little pudge of a belly. Now that she was starting to show, Peyton was the cutest pregnant woman I’d ever seen. I’d been such a horror show with both girls, the older women in my family would pat my hand and assure me that beautiful girls always stole their mother’s beauty, as if that would’ve made me feel better.
“Hot and heavy in the pool. This is a great story already.”
“Well, on the side of the pool. We…” I trailed off, cringing at all the details flooding my mind but halting on my tongue. “Peyton, I think I’ve officially lost my mind.”
“Kristina,” she chided back. “This is what vacation is supposed to be, right? An escape from life.”
“And then when I get back, I can look forward to all the remorse from the memories.”
“Okay, I’ll infer all that could have happened poolside last night. I can wait on details. But tell me this, do you regret any of it now?”
“No,” I said, surprised at how my answer fell from my lips with no hesitation. “I’ve never clicked with anyone so fast. It was pathetic, really. I had no idea what to do when a man seemed interested in me, or how to respond. I know I’m severely out of practice, but—” I raked my hand through my hair as if I could sift out what was really bothering me. “Even now, I can’t believe it’s real.”
“I really hate that you feel that way. You’re beautiful and deserve all the attention. Do me one favor while you’re there. Instead of worrying about what happens when you come home or whether you should be doing this, if it feels right, just go with it.”
“Are you trying to guidance counsel me?” I teased.
Peyton had a way of making you feel better or at least believe something wasn’t as awful as you had originally thought. She was like the wise younger sister I never knew I needed.
Throughout the divorce, I’d leaned on both her and my brother more than I’d planned or wanted to. But she was the one I’d told the ugly parts of what I was going through, as my brother would go into fixer mode and simply want to kick Colin’s ass. Her high school students loved her as much as we did.
“Just a little sisterly advice. Because I love you. And really want you to come back with an amazing story for me.”
“Love you too. And I’ll do my best.” I pushed off the bed and eyed the dresses I’d hung up in the closet. “Tell the girls I’ll call them later.”
“They’re fine. They miss you, but we’re all keeping them busy until you get back.”
My phone vibrated with another text after we ended the call.
Unknown:Still on for 10?
I assumed it was Leo and keyed in his name before I responded.
Me:Still on.
Leo:Good. How did you sleep?
I glanced down at the king-sized bed and its layers of fluffy comfort.
