Almost Perfect (Fool's Gold #2)(65)

Liz bristled. “I don’t have a chip.”

“Oh, please. It’s huge. The size of a small car. Which must make sleeping difficult.”

Liz narrowed her gaze. “Are you drunk?”

“No, but I plan to be.” She took a big swallow of her martini. “My point was you’re so damned perfect, I should hate you, but here I am taking your side. You should be grateful. And maybe buy me a diamond or something.”

Liz had barely sipped her own drink, but her head was spinning. “I’m not perfect.”

Pia rolled her eyes. “As if that’s true. Look at you. You were gorgeous in high school, and now you’re even more beautiful. Worse, you don’t seem to notice. It’s not like you go out of your way to be attractive. It just happens. Have you ever seen me in the morning? No. Well, let me just say without some serious work, I can’t walk out of the house. I would scar small children for life.”

Liz didn’t know if she should laugh or run for her life. “You’re insane.”

“Maybe, but it’s true. Even more horrible, you’re smart. Everyone knows it. Back in school, the teachers always talked about you. ‘Why can’t you be smart and dedicated like Liz?’” she repeated in a mocking tone. Pia took another sip. “You ruined it for all of us.”

Now Liz couldn’t help laughing. “I did not.”

“Ya huh. You so did. And now. Look at you. You’re a famous mystery-thriller writer person. You’ve got that damn scholarship in your name at the stupid community college. You have a great kid. What do I have? A cat who doesn’t even like me and three dead house-plants.”

Pia looked miserable and defiant and slightly tipsy. Liz took her free hand and squeezed her fingers. “I’m not all that, and you have so much more than you listed. You have a great job and a community and people who love you. Crystal loved you.”

Pia wiped tears from her face. “She did and she was great. But you have character and I never did.”

Liz kept a hold on her fingers. “You have enough character for all of us. Trust me.”

Pia’s wide eyes filled with tears again. “You promise?”

“Cross my heart.”

ETHAN PUNCHED THE BUTTON TO increase the incline on the elliptical. It was midafternoon and the gym was quiet. A few high school guys worked out with the free weights and there was a yoga class going on in the glass-enclosed area at the far end of the building.

“This is how girls work out,” Ethan grumbled as he wiped away sweat.

Josh grinned at him. “We could have gone bike riding.”

“I didn’t have time. Unlike you, I work for a living.”

“I work,” Josh protested. “Not very hard, but I work.”

His friend had called to suggest they head to the gym together. They’d briefly discussed a thirty-mile bike ride, but Ethan had meetings later that afternoon. As much as he would have enjoyed the mountainous route, it would have to wait for another day.

“Maybe this weekend,” Josh suggested. “If you’re not too busy with Tyler.”

“Why are you free on the weekend?” Ethan knew his friend, a recent newlywed, spent every free second with his wife.

“Charity and Mayor Marsha are going to San Francisco to shop for the baby’s room.”

Ethan grinned. “You don’t want a say in colors and accessories?”

Josh shuddered visibly. “No, thanks. I just want the baby to be healthy.”

“And a boy.”

Josh chuckled. “I wouldn’t say no to a boy. But we’re waiting to find out. Charity wants to be surprised.”

Ethan felt the burn in his legs and increased the pace of his workout. “You scared?” he asked.

Josh shrugged, then nodded. “Sometimes. When I think about it. What do I know about being a father?”

Ethan could relate to that. The difference was Josh got to start small—with a newborn. Of course a baby was a whole different set of worries.

“I know what you mean,” he said.

“How’s it going with Tyler?”

“Good. Great. He’s bright and funny. Athletic.”

“You see yourself in him?”

“Yeah, but there’s a lot of Liz, too.”

“Is that bad?” Josh asked.

“Sometimes,” Ethan admitted, wiping away sweat. “I’m dealing, not that I have a choice. But when I think too much about what she did…” He grabbed his water bottle and swallowed several gulps.

Going there, getting riled up, accomplished nothing, Ethan reminded himself. It was a waste of time and energy.

“She speaking to you?” Josh inquired.

“Sure. Why?”

“The injunction. I would have figured she’d come after you with something sharp.”

“She wasn’t happy,” he commented. “I reacted. It wasn’t smart. But it’s done now.”

“Can’t you undo it?”

Ethan thought about the judge. She didn’t seem like the type of person who would support him changing his mind. And he wasn’t willing to test the theory and risk jail time.

“We’ll figure out a plan,” he declared.

“Charity said Pia told her Liz came back as soon as she found out she was pregnant. But you were other wise engaged.”