Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Cadie stared at me, blinking a few times. “Oh my God. I don’t even know where to start with that. I mean that sucks about the books but you slept with James? When?”
“Back in March sometime. I didn’t mark it down on my calendar. I found myself at The Muddled Moose drinking alone. James had just found out that the girl he was dating was also dating someone else in Lake Placid and had accidentally texted James when she meant to text the other guy. He was devastated. We drank. We talked and then I asked him if he wanted a night of meaningless sex.”
Her mouth fell open. “Was he good?”
I nearly laughed. “That’s what you’re going to ask?”
“Yes, because when I tell Harper and Brystol this story, that’s going to be the first thing they’ll ask me: if I asked you how he was in bed.”
I stared at her for a moment before I laughed. “Fair enough. He was…different. It didn’t mean anything, so it was more…I don’t know. Different. I’ve never had sex with a guy I didn’t have feelings for.”
“Different good?”
Nodding, I smiled. “Yes, he was a very attentive lover, if you get what I mean.”
She giggled. “Okay, I’ll take that answer. Have you guys since then?”
“No. Gosh, no. We’re way better as friends. He’s been there for me, and I appreciate it. It’s nice being able to talk to a guy about things. It’s a different perspective.”
“Totally get that. I’m glad he was there for you when you needed him. But, back to Liam.”
She reached for my hand.
“Aurora, you were helping out a friend. Yes, I know there were times when Hope asked you to back off, but I think that was a personal issue for Hope, not a problem with you. I can’t imagine what she was going through. I would hazard a guess if I were that sick and someone else was taking care of my baby, it would make me jealous. I’d also guess that Hope voiced those feelings to Liam.”
I nodded. “That’s why I backed away when I did. And when Hope passed away, I was simply trying to help him with things until Mary arrived. He didn’t see it that way, though. He accused me of throwing myself at him.”
“Wait. What? Like in a sexual way?”
“That’s how I took it. He said Hope was right, and I was trying to move in and replace her.”
“Have you been back to see him or Winnie since then?”
“No,” I whispered. “I thought it best to just let them be. I mean, I’ve seen Winnie at the bookstore and sometimes when Mary was walking her down Main. I haven’t been back to the house though. I don’t feel welcome there. Nathan did tell me that Liam said hi and that he and Winnie missed me. To be fair also, he was really drunk that night.”
I shrugged and went on. “Today, though, he asked me if Nathan had mentioned that Liam asked him to tell me hi from him and Winnie. Then he mentioned he needed to apologize to me. I offered to take Winnie while he met with some health inspector, and he said he’d have a manager just play with her in the office, and something about imposing on me. It only reminded me of what he said a few months ago and I popped off with a shit-ass remark.”
“What did you say?”
I shrugged. “That if he would rather take her, that was fine, I didn’t want to overstep…again.”
She dropped back in her chair and sighed. “Maybe he feels bad for asking so many people to watch Winnie. Opal told me that Mary said Liam was always there for Winnie, but when it came to taking her anywhere in town, it was Jake or Mary. Or Liam’s father. She said Liam took her to a park pretty far away from their house. They did campouts in the backyard, but he refused to take her to storytime at your bookshop. Maybe he’s embarrassed to see you. As for avoiding town, maybe he doesn’t want people to feel sorry for him.”
I nodded.
“And Opal also said since Mary left, she and Jake have been watching Winnie in the afternoons and at night when Liam is working, if they’re in town. If not, it’s Liam’s father, Mitchell. I don’t think it will last much longer, though, for Jake and Opal. They’re both retired and want to travel together. It’s their time, but Jake feels guilty.”
“Yeah, it was always Mary or Jake and Opal who brought her to storytime. I’m not sure what he’s going to do now that Mary is gone, and, as you said, Jake and Opal want to travel.” I exhaled. “Anyway, it’s not my concern. How are things going with you and Kian?”
Her eyes lit up. “Wonderful. I sometimes have to pinch myself because I feel like I’m living in a dream. I have everything I’ve ever wished for.”