Waiting On You (Blue Heron #3)(105)

“Close up, brother mine,” she said. “And then come join the girls and me so we don’t have to talk about you behind your back.”

Faith, her sister Pru and Emmaline Neal were sitting at the Girls Night Out table, and Levi and Jeremy Lyon were in a booth, nursing beers, though Levi kept shooting his wife those hot sleepy looks of his.

“Levi, enough!” Colleen called. “The testosterone is choking me, okay? No wonder Faithie’s knocked up. Jeremy, can’t you distract him?”

“I’ll do my best, Coll,” Jeremy said.

“You should try working with him,” Emmaline said. “He calls her constantly. ‘How you feeling, babe? You need anything, sweetheart?’ It sickens me.” She smiled at Faith, then looked over at Levi. “You’re a horrible boss,” she added.

“Then quit,” he answered easily. “Jeremy would hire you in a heartbeat.”

“That’s true, Emmaline,” Jer said. “I pay better, too.”

“But can I carry a gun in a doctor’s office?” she asked.

“It does tend to send the wrong message,” Jeremy said.

“And speaking of love,” Faith said.

“Oh, are we gonna talk about Carl and me?” Prudence asked. “I have to say, doing it in a car was a lot more awkward than I remembered. My back started to spasm when he—”

Faith put her hand over her sister’s mouth.

“When he what?” Colleen asked.

“Don’t answer,” Faith said. “I wanted to talk about Paulie. What happened with her and Bryce, Colleen?”

Colleen sighed. “One of my rare failures.”

“Bryce Campbell?” Jessica asked.

“Yeah.”

“He’s kind of a slut, isn’t he?” Emmaline said.

“Yep.”

“Poor Paulie,” Faith said. “She’s so nice.” She sighed. “Well, how are things with you and Lucas, Coll?”

“Let’s talk about Connor instead, how’s that? Does anyone know who he’s seeing? Other than his blow-up doll?”

“I’m right here,” Connor said.

“Really. What a shock.” At that moment, her phone rang. She looked at it. “It’s Lucas. I’m going to make him wait because I’m just not the type to throw over my friends for a guy— Con, where are you going?”

“I’m leaving. I have to call my mystery woman.”

“I’m tapping your phone.

“I have to go, too,” Emmaline said. “Ink Wars is on. See you around.”

“Me, too,” Prudence said. “It’s RPG night at the Vanderbeek household. Abby’s sleeping over at Helena’s house, thank God.”

“What’s RPG?” Faith asked.

“Role playing game,” Pru said blithely. “Professor Snape and McGonagall.” She gave a lurid wink.

“Harry Potter? You’re ruining Harry Potter?” Faith yelped. “Is nothing sacred anymore?”

“Not ruining anything,” Pru said. “Enhancing.”

“I just threw up in my mouth,” Faith said.

“Have fun, Pru,” Colleen said as Pru, married for twenty-some-odd years, sauntered off. “You have to admire the creativity,” she added.

“I admire nothing,” Faith said. “So. You and Lucas. Spill. Why didn’t you take his call?”

“I’m mad at him.”

“Why?”

Colleen didn’t answer right away. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I just...I wonder if we’re only sleeping together because we’re in the same town. Because it’s convenient. His ex-wife’s in town, and I understand that she was part of his family for years, and he was part of hers, but I’m still seething with jealousy. Oh, and she’s engaged and pregnant, but she and Lucas are still best friends forever, apparently. She’s staying at his apartment.”

“Oh, dear,” Faith said.

“Exactly. That’s bad, right?”

“No, I was just murmuring over the seething part.” She paused. “Why is she staying with him?”

“Because the Black Swan double-booked.”

“Oh, yeah. They did that in January, when Liza and Mike came out for the wedding, remember? Anyway.” She took a sip of water. “Is he staying here after Joe...passes away?”

“No.” The thought of him leaving made her throat clamp shut.

“Would you move to—”

“No.” She took a shaky breath. “Not that he’s asked. I mean, we haven’t talked about it, because...well, shit, Faith, I don’t know. I’m afraid. The truth is, I’m ridiculously inexperienced with serious relationships. Tell me what to do.”

“Me? I’ve had two relationships, and they’re sitting in that booth over there.”

“Well, what do I know?” Colleen whispered. “I’m the queen of flirting but I haven’t had a boyfriend in years. I’ve fixed up dozens of people, and I give out advice like Dr. Phil, and what has that ever gotten me? I’m thirty-one years old, I’ve been in love once, and I’m utterly terrified that Lucas is going to break my heart, same as last time.”