Page 25 of Clean Sweep
I turned us slowly, reluctantly, seeing Claire and her husband standing by their car. She smiled, looking over at Laura then back to me.
"Erik, I thought that was you," she stepped away from her car, coming towards us, her arms out as if she were about to hug me. "it's so great to run into you."
Laura disengaged, allowing Claire to wrap her arms around me. I remained frozen, like a stone, my emotions in lockdown as she squeezed.
She still wears Chanel.
Her perfume clung to me, overwhelming my senses.
She stepped back, smiling brightly at Laura. "Hi, I'm Claire. I'm sure Erik has told you all about me."
Laura took her hand, a fake smile pasted on her face. "Yes, of course," she lied.
"We're in town for Connor's sister's wedding." Claire grinned at her husband. "Thought we'd take advantage of staying with family and get a night out and away from the baby."
They have a baby.
She looked back at me, her smile still on her face. "It's so lovely to see you, Erik. Have a good night."
She turned, walking back to her car and sliding in. Laura slipped an arm back around my waist and we watched silently as they pulled out and drove away.
"She's the one who broke your heart?" Laura asked quietly.
My chest deconstructed, air suddenly rushing out as the ice in my veins melting at her straightforwardness. "Yeah."
"Seems like a bitch."
A startled laugh burst from my lips. "What?"
Laura shrugged, "introduces herself but doesn't ask about me. Talks about herself, drops how happy they are with the baby thing, then leaves. Doesn't once ask how you are or what our relationship is."
"Well… fuck." I muttered. "You got her number."
Laura gestured at the pier. "Wanna talk about it?"
I looked down at the beautiful woman beside me. "Actually, yeah."
"Let me get my coat from the car and we can go for a walk."
"Okay."
OceanofPDF.com
Chapter Eight
Laura
I snuggled into my coat as we walked the length of the pier. It was a beautiful spring night, if not a little chilly. But the moon was high, the breeze soft, and the stars bright. The waves crashed comfortingly as we strolled. At the pier, there was a set of stairs which took you down to the beach.
I led, kicking off my shoes at the bottom and sighing in pleasure as the sand wedged between my toes.
We strolled in companionable silence, sitting down under the pier, sheltered from the breeze and curious eyes.
"It's not a long story," Erik finally said, his hip and leg pressed against mine as we settled in the sand. "Just a sucky one."
I glided fingers through the sand, head tilted his way, listening.
"We'd been together for three years. I'd thought she was the one. She'd refused to move into the little apartment I owned above the shop and said she had no room for me in her one bedroom. So, I'd been looking for a new place. An agent had just finished showing me a two-bedroom condo when she'd walked out of the apartment across from the open for inspection. I got to see her make out with him while I just stood there. That was a fun experience."
