Page 99 of Just One Silver Fox

Nate coughed a little. “That’s Sheba, my new companion.”

“She looks big.”

“She is and don’t think about making off with that tennis ball. Never mind that you could wring it out.”

Sonia made the disgusted sound that she knew was expected of her. “I’m glad,” she said.

“Me, too,” Nate agreed. “Now, on your advice, I need to step out and let women see me after my yoga session.”

“Maybe you should sing.”

“Great idea! The panties are going to fly.”

Sonia knew she was supposed to laugh but she didn’t want to think about him having a hook-up with someone else. “Maybe you should get the band back together.”

“Maybe.” His voice dropped low. “Are you feeling okay about stepping into view like this?”

“Nervous,” she admitted. “I’ll probably have that dream tonight.”

“Is it changing?”

“It wasn’t as bad last night.”

“Progress then, just because you refused to stay hidden.” He paused for a minute. “You could press charges, you know.”

“I know.” She sighed. “And it would be his word against mine. I’m sure he’d have great lawyers and I don’t want to spend the new few years living that. I’d rather let karma take care of it.”

Nate didn’t say anything for a minute. “Have you thought about challenging them outright?”

“What?”

“Having your say. Clearing the air. Letting the truth loose. It might be really cathartic.”

The idea shook Sonia’s world. “Did you go and become a therapist when I wasn’t looking?” she asked and he laughed.

“No, but when you’re afraid of something, it often turns out to be a lot less scary than imagined. We can build things up into mountains, when they’re really just little molehills. Even if they’re hills, they might not be the mountains we fear.”

Sonia thought about it. “That’s something to think about. Thank you, Nate.”

“Just being a friend.”

Sonia took a chance. “I’ve never had such a good friend. Thanks for showing me what I was missing.”

Nate was quiet for a minute. “Losers, Sonia. You better at finding losers than anyone I’ve ever known.”

She smiled. “Maybe I’m getting over it.”

“Good,” he said, but he didn’t sound very happy about it.

“Take care, Nate.”

“You, too, Sonia.” He ended the call and she looked at her phone for a long moment. It had been good to hear his voice again, and if this was the way they had to interact in order to stay friends, Sonia would do it. She wanted Nate in her life, in any way. She saved the picture just because he looked so irresistible that she knew she’d want to peek at it again.

She wouldn’t think about him being with anyone else.

Or that smile.

The feel of his mouth under her fingertip.

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