Page 56 of An Ex Affair

“That’s okay. No harm done.” She smiled. “That’s what readers call a meet-cute moment.” Her smile dropped and her hands waved wildly like she was trying to clear away her own words. “Not that…you know. I know you and…well.” She cleared her throat. “Congratulations to you and Tully.”

Hattie had always been quiet and shy, but cute in an awkward way. This interaction was no different. I dipped my head in thanks.

“Yeah, life’s strange, isn’t it?” I didn’t want to get into it with a virtual stranger. Especially not right now when my head was in a mess over Tully. We’d gone from confessing we loved each other this morning to me being so insanely jealous of her past relationships I couldn’t see straight.

“It really is,” Hattie agreed, tugging on the ends of her thin white sweater that covered a brightly colored sundress. “There’s a bit of magic in everything and some loss to even things out.”

I tilted my head, resonating with what she’d said. “Shakespeare?”

Hattie grinned from ear to ear, transforming her face from cute to flat-out beautiful. “No! Those are lyrics from the rock singer Lou Reed.”

I nodded, thinking I didn’t know this woman that well, but she was nice to chat with. “I guess you could say I’ve known both magic and loss when it comes to Tully Cassio.”

Hattie’s smile dimmed. Her hand came back to my chest, patting lightly. “I understand that completely, though I’d have to estimate I’ve seen more loss than magic.” She scrunched up her entire face, making her glasses slip down her nose. “Have you seen who’s available in the dating pool recently?”

I covered her hand with mine and gave a squeeze before she dropped her hand. “Sadly, yes, so I get it.”

We shared a smile. It felt nice to connect with someone. Sure, I talked to my friends at the station, but their shoulder to cry on was a little rougher. They’d only listen to me whine for so long before calling me an asshole and telling me to man up. Tough love was what they had to offer.

“You know…” Hattie looked past me before bringing her gaze back to me, something twinkling in those wide eyes. “Jealousy is that pain which a man feels from the apprehension that he is not equally beloved by the person whom he entirely loves.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “Another song lyric?”

She shook her head. “Joseph Addison. An English poet.” Her cheeks seemed to reignite the blush that had been there earlier. “Nothing like a little jealousy to make a woman realize what she has.”

I folded my arms across my chest, thoroughly lost in this conversation. “Huh?”

Hattie lifted her nose in the air. “I’m willing to kiss you, Colson. Make Tully a little jealous to even out the loss and magic scales. She’s right inside there with Gabi and Joey.”

I nearly choked on my own spit. “Um, yeah, no. Thank you for the offer, but I don’t like to play games.”

Rosemary Roberts, the principal at the elementary school, stepped between two parked cars and linked her arm through Hattie’s. “Oh, I think it’s a great idea. Except maybe we should both fawn all over you. A Wolfe sandwich, if you will. Really ramp up the jealousy.”

My jaw dropped. I was used to being hit on by the old ladies of Blueball, but Rosemary and Hattie were a decade younger than me.

Rosemary leaned in. “You know, I dropped by your place a few weeks ago when I happened to be driving by. Thought I’dask you about coming by the elementary school to read to the kids. It’s like a ‘career day’ type of thing for the super young ones. Anyway, Tully was staring me down from the corner of her mama’s house! I didn’t bother coming back to ask you again once I saw she was back in town. Honestly, I think a little jealousy is the push she needs.”

I gaped at her. This was all news to me.

“Oh! She’s coming!” Hattie whispered, practically giddy. She placed her hand on my arm and rubbed up and down, same time Rosemary sidled up to my other side, putting her arm around my waist. She tossed her head back and laughed like I’d said something hilarious.

Before I knew what was happening, a growling bulldog pushed between me and Rosemary. I raised my arms in the air like the FBI had raided the area and I was proving my innocence. It was actually Tully, not a bulldog, but she was as vicious as an animal in heat, yanking me away from the two ladies and down the sidewalk as fast as her short little legs could carry her.

“Did you seriously tell me you love me just this morning and now you’re flirting with two women right in front of me?”

Oh, she was jealous all right. Hopping mad too. She let go of my arm and whirled, hands on her hips, stopping our retreat. Heads turned but I couldn’t have cared less. I was having a hard time not doubling over laughing. Tully must have seen the smile tugging on my lips because she smacked me right in the chest.

“Hey! This isn’t funny!”

A bark of laughter escaped. “Are you seriously jealous, Tully?”

“Yes!” She threw her arms out to the side. Then she dropped them and stared at me like she was as surprised as me that she was so worked up. She’d never been the jealous type. I’d never given her a reason to be jealous when we were kids. Not when she’d been my whole world and she knew it.

“You may be feeling a little bit like I did when Benny and Muriel were talking about Benicio.” I hooked my thumb over my shoulder. “I didn’t plan that back there, that was all Hattie and Rosemary. I wasn’t trying to make you jealous. I don’t play those games.”

“I know that.” Tully’s voice was calmer and quieter. “Still felt jealous though.”

I reached out for her hand and she let me hold it. “We got issues, woman.”

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