Beauty from Pain(83)

“I’m not saying it’s any kind of excuse for what I did, but I was really drunk New Year’s Eve. I never would’ve acted that way otherwise. I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry.”


“Apology accepted.” That’s all he’s getting from me.


I walk to the bedroom I once shared with my best friend and she’s sitting on the bed, ready to go. She jolts when she sees me in the doorway. I knew this was a total set-up. “Don’t be mad, Laurie. He wanted to see you so he could apologize and I knew this was the only way.”


“You lied to me.” As I accuse her, I think of all the half-truths I’ve told her about Lachlan and decide it might be a good idea if I’m not too quick to call the kettle black. “But it’s okay. I understand why you did it.”


“I had to, Laurie. He’s been so sick with himself since it happened.”


“Well, it’s over now. I told him I accepted his apology.”


“Thank you, Laurie.”


Addison and I haven’t seen each other since I moved out, so we have a lot of catching up to do. We decide it’s best to do it over cheeseburgers and shakes at the fifties diner on the square.


“So, how’s it going with the suit?”


That name is all wrong for him now. I’ve rarely seen him in a suit since those first few days. He’s all sexy, rugged wear these days, but I choose to not debate it with her. “He works a lot of hours, but things are good now.”


“What does ‘now’ mean?”


Do I really want to discuss Audrey with her? Yes, I think I do. She’s my best friend. I need to get this out and tell someone about it. “One of his bat-shit crazy exes came to see me last night while he was out of town.”


Addison sits up straighter, ready to hear the juicy details. She loves a good catfight. “What happened? Did you have to whip her ass?”


“She walked in the house like she owned the place and told me she was his wife and mother of his children.”


I suspect she’s seeing the same red flag I saw. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Right? “And is she?”


“No, but of course I believed her. You know how I am when it comes to men. I don’t trust them.”


“Laurie, how do you know she’s not telling the truth?”


I’m playing with the napkin in my lap, tearing off small pieces and rolling them into little balls. “I packed my stuff and had it by the door so I could get out of there first thing this morning. He came home early and then the shit got real when he saw I was leaving. Addison, he called his mother and woke her at three o’clock this morning so she would vouch that he isn’t married.”


“That’s good, right?”


“The part about being single is good, but what happened afterwards was unexpected.” I’m not sure this uncomplicated relationship thing is going to stay that way.


“Chillax, Laurie. Sex is sex. Roll with it and have fun. Stop trying to make it complex.”


I’m not trying to make sex with Lachlan complicated. “We didn’t have sex.”


She narrows her eyes at me. “Did he tell you he loved you or some bullshit like that?”


“No, we didn’t talk.”


“If you didn’t talk and you didn’t have sex, what did you do?”


“He just held me all night.”


“Psst. That sounds boring as hell.”


“But it wasn’t. I liked it.”


“You need counseling.” Addison can be such a dude sometimes.


“You’re my best friend. You’re supposed to counsel me when I lose my way.”


“Honey, you lost me on this deal back when you said you didn’t have sex.” She shrugs her shoulders. “I got nothing for you.”


“He’s taking me to New Zealand next week.”


She punches me in the shoulder. “Shut the hell up. No way.”


“Yeah, he is.” I reach into my purse and hold up the money he gave me. “We’re staying at a house on a private beach and he wants me to buy new clothes and swimsuits for the trip.”


Addison’s eyes widen. “Shit! How much money is that?”