Mid Life Love (Mid Life Love #1)(67)

I suddenly felt guilty for suggesting that restaurant, for thinking it would stir up good memories and conversation.

“I don’t think about it as much as I used to, but there are still little reminders here or there and I just...”

“You just what?” I pulled her closer.

“I still can’t believe it on some days...My best friend and my husband? The two people I trusted the most?” She sighed. “She and I used to take a road trip to New York every year to celebrate her birthday. We always did the same thing: Times Square, a Broadway play, and a night on the town...”

“The last time we went there together, she was three months pregnant and I was buying her all these cute little baby clothes because I was so happy for her...I can’t help but think how sick of a person she really was—to celebrate her birthday with me, knowing that my husband’s child was growing inside of her...How f**king disgusting is that?”

She leaned against me. “When I asked my husband why he did it—why he would even think to cheat on me with my best friend, he said there’d always been something between the two of them. He said he’d had feelings for her since the first day they met, but he thought being with me was the safe and secure choice...Then, one night while they were drinking—at my house ironically, one thing led to another and...And after years of suppressing their feelings, they just couldn’t deny it anymore...Isn’t that the stupidest shit you’ve ever heard?”

I didn’t say anything. I just gently rubbed her back.

“They had another little girl last year...They’ve traveled all around the world together and done all the things I thought he and I would be doing together at this point...He even took her to the Panama Canal, where we were supposed to go...He said he would take me sailing there for our fifteenth anniversary, but we never made it because...because...” She stopped and shook her head.

“I’m so sorry that happened to you, Claire...”

I expected her to say more, to cry even, but she simply buried her head in my chest and drifted into a deep sleep.

I felt Claire nuzzling my chest and set my phone down.

“What time is it?” she murmured.

“Nine fifteen. Are you hungry? Would you like to get something to eat?”

“No. I’m okay.” She moved out of my lap. “You can take me home now.”

I don’t think so...

“What do you normally do when you’re upset? What makes you feel better?”

“Home Depot...Or more recently, sex with you.”

I laughed. “The home improvement store? Why?”

“I can’t explain it. One step inside that store and I just...All my problems go away for a while. I get lost in the paint swatches, the tiles, the bathroom fixtures, and—everything.”

“Would you like to go there now?”

“It closed at nine o’ clock...” She frowned.

“That’s not what I asked you.”

“Yes...If it were possible, right now would be a perfect time to go.”

I picked up my phone. “Hey, Corey? I need you to do me a favor.”

“The manager says you have two hours and he wants every item you take to be scanned on register number one. He wants a sTablet the day it comes out, and he’ll send you the bill tomorrow.” Corey typed a few things onto his tablet and the doors to Home Depot slid open.

Claire looked up at me and smiled as she made her way into the store, leaving me standing alone with Corey.

“Okay, seriously...” Corey said once she was out of earshot. “Does she have any friends who look half as good as she does? I need someone too, you know.”

“Watch it. I thought you had a date tonight. What happened with that?”

“She was an airhead. All she talked about was what type of clothes she wanted to wear to some celebrity party in L.A...We did have sex in my car on the way back though—which was amazing, but I don’t think I can sit through another dinner with her. One was painful enough.”

“I’m sure you’ll have someone else by tomorrow. Did you finish the Sorrento account?”

“Of course I did. No thanks to you.” He laughed. “We now have the best security tracking system I’ve ever seen. It’s been three days and I haven’t been able to hack into it from the outside. That’s a pretty good sign.”

“Good to know. Could you deactivate all the cameras in the store?”

“Ten steps ahead of you.” He patted my shoulder and started stepping backwards. “The next time you want to interrupt my favorite show, just so you can break into a hardware store after-hours, please hesitate to let me know.”

I walked over to where I saw Claire disappear to and spotted her on the ceiling fan aisle.

“Thank you so much.” Her eyes met mine. “I only need to get a few things...I left my wallet at home so I’ll pay you back for —”

“Get anything you want. You should know that you don’t have to pay me back.”

Her eyes lit up. “Anything I want?”

“Yes.” I kissed her lips. “Anything you want.”

“Well, in that case, we might be here for a while...”

It was midnight by the time she’d picked out everything she wanted, and we’d filled six carts to capacity.