Three Little Words (Fool's Gold #12)(38)

Felicia chuckled. “Charlie, we love you. That’s why it’s fun to tease you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Where’s Webster?”

“Safely sleeping in my office. If I brought him here, he would be attacking all of you. He’s still in the chew, eat, sleep, poop stage of puppy life.” Her gaze softened. “But he’s wonderful and I love him. Once he’s a little more mature, I’m going to talk to Gideon about us having a baby.”

Isabel felt her mouth drop open. “Just like that?” she asked.

“Of course.” Felicia looked surprised. “I love Gideon and he loves me. Why wouldn’t I talk about what I want? I would expect him to do the same. We’re very supportive of our dreams and goals, and the happiness of the primary couple ensures the happiness of the family unit.”

“I think the startling part is how mature you’re being,” Dellina said. “I have trouble asking for what I want, especially when it comes to men.”

“If you don’t ask for what you want, how do you get it?” Felicia asked. “If you’re relying on him guessing, you’re sabotaging your own happiness.”

“Which probably explains my single state,” Dellina admitted. “You’re brave and take-charge. It’s impressive.”

Felicia smiled. “Thank you for the compliment. I’m also too direct and socially awkward. Thanks to my friends in town, I’m better than I was.”

“We love you,” Patience said, then turned to Charlie. “You would fall under the category of saying what you want.”

“Pretty much. I’m better at saying what I don’t want, though. Clay’s really good at picking up cues.”

“I’m not brave,” Patience admitted.

“Me, either,” Isabel said.

Noelle smiled sympathetically. “Yeah, I’m not good at talking around what’s bothering me. But I’m very good at ignoring it.”

“You’re our leader,” Patience told Felicia.

“At least she’ll get us where we need to go,” Noelle joked. “Using GPS, a compass, the stars and astral projection.”

“I’ve never been successful at astral projection,” Felicia said. “I suspect it requires a level of faith I can’t accommodate. It’s difficult to turn my brain off and simply believe.”

Isabel did her best not to stare. “But you’ve tried it?”

“Of course. Haven’t you?”

“Not recently. The closest I’ve come to an out-of-body experience was facing down Ford’s mother when she flat-out asked me if I was dating him.”

Charlie winced. “I love Denise, but she can be fierce when it comes to her kids. What happened?”

“I lied and said yes. It was horrible. I don’t know if she believed me or not. Either way I had to agree to a family dinner.”

“Ford seriously owes you,” Noelle said.

“That’s what I told him.” Isabel put down her plate of risotto.

“I’m sure the sex will be worth it,” Patience said, her expression serene.

Isabel nearly scrambled to her feet. “What? We haven’t had sex.”

“But you’re going to.”

It wasn’t a question, but Isabel still considered the words. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “We’ve kissed and that was hot, but...”

She hesitated, not sure how to explain her confusion on the subject of sex. A week ago she would have said thanks, but no, thanks. Why bother? But after that kiss, she couldn’t help wondering if the rest of it would be just as good.

“Things with Eric were complicated,” she said at last.

“Are you worried you’re still in love with him?” Noelle asked.

“Not exactly.” Isabel drew in a breath. “We were friends more than anything else. Good friends. I... He...” What the hell? If she didn’t trust these women, who could she trust?

“Eric and I split up because he realized he was g*y.”

Her friends stared at her with identical expressions of shock. She braced herself for what was to follow—pity and an uncomfortable silence. Maybe some recrimination for not confessing sooner. Instead Noelle gave her a hug and Charlie grunted in disgust.

“He couldn’t have had his moment of inner clarity before the wedding ceremony?” she demanded.

“That was really selfish,” Patience added. “He must have hurt you. You know you’re not responsible, right?”

Felicia nodded. “There is more and more scientific evidence that gender preference is determined long before birth. There were some fascinating studies done in Britain after the Second World War. One theory is that the stress of the blitz in London...” She cleared her throat. “A discussion for another time.”

“I wanted to say something earlier,” Isabel began.

“No,” Noelle said firmly. “Don’t apologize. That’s huge and there are things a person needs to keep to herself until she’s ready for everyone to know.”

She spoke with emphasis, which made Isabel wonder what secrets Noelle was hiding. But as her friend had just said—she would tell them when she was ready.

“Thanks, everyone,” she told them. “For listening and for being my friends.”