Page 16 of Park Avenue Princess

Addy laughs. “Okay, well maybe not those exact words, but it’s definitely a chance to try again. The man is gorgeous and smart and humble, and I think he’s still got it bad for you.”

I cock my head and squint at her. “How do you know? What did you two talk about at that birthday party?”

“He told me a bit about himself and his father, which, by the way, is also a strained relationship, so you both have that in common. But it was Hollis who actually brought up the story of him meeting a woman in Hawaii named Addy and teasingly asked if it was me. I then prompted Guy about it but he said very little.”

“So how do you know he’s still got it bad for me? Maybe you meant he’smadat me, you know, for using him for fantastic sex and refusing to share any personal details.”

“Lynne, if you had heard the tone of his voice, seen the look on his face when he spoke about you, you’d know. He’s not over you.”

I close my eyes and shake my head. “I don’t even know what to do with this information.”

“Maybe you let me arrange for an accidental meeting between you two and take it from there.”

“No!” I say a little too adamantly. Okay, I guess it was alotadamantly when most of the people in the café whip their heads around in my direction. I lower my voice as I continue. “Addy, no, I can’t face him. What happened between us is in the past, six years ago, long-buried. We’re probably very different people now, and—”

“Oh, horse shit,” she spews, causing me to sigh and roll my eyes. “Lynne, have you dated another man more than twice since returning from Hawaii?” When I start to answer, she holds up her hand to stop me. Obviously her question is rhetorical and requires no answer. “Not only have you hardly dated anyone at all, but I bet you haven’t had sex more than three times these past six years.”

I cringe. If she only knew…

Addy stares at me with wide eyes. “Have you even had sexoncein the past six years?”

I barely mumble, “I don’t suppose my vibrator counts?”

She laughs. Boisterously.

“Okay, enough. We’re taking this conversation elsewhere.” I don’t even bother gaining the attention of our waitress, instead, I gather my items and walk to the service counter to pay for our breakfast. And I don’t even look back to ensure Addy’s following me because I know she is; she won’t be able to resist digging deeper into this subject.

As I exit the café, she’s right on my heels, still chuckling.

“I’m so glad you’re amused at my lack of a sex life, dear friend.”

“That could change real quick,friend. Have you seriously not had sex since Guy?”

“I don’t know that I want to answer that,” I say, faking a snooty attitude as I stick my nose in the air.

Addy continues to laugh. “That in itself is my answer. Wow, Lynne, he must’ve been something else. So why on earth wouldn’t you want to reconnect and try to see if you two could have a real relationship?”

I stop to face her. “Because that wasn’t really me.”

Her face bunches with confusion. “What do you mean, that wasn’t really you? You were the one having sex and adventures with him, weren’t you?”

“Well, yes, it was me, butthatisn’t me. I’m not that person anymore who has a casual fling with a sexy stranger. That was the rebellious, carefree, I’m in Hawaii to do whatever the hell I want and my parents no longer control my life, Lynne. I wasn’t looking for a hook-up, it just happened. And yes, I thoroughly enjoyed it but I don’t want a relationship.”

“And why not? From what you told me it was more than just sexy times. You genuinely had fun with the man.”

“Yeah, it was fun, it was a vacation. This is real life. I don’t have the time or desire for that complication.”

“Bullshit.”

“Bullshit?” I sputter.

“Yeah, Lynne, that’s bullshit. Loving a man, therightman, isn’t a complication.”

“Love?!Who said anything about love? I don’t love Guy.”

“I think you were headed in that direction. From everything you told me, and thewayyou told it, you had something pretty damned amazing with the potential to be so much more. I know you, Lynne. You don’t give yourself carelessly. But you do guard yourself.”

Unexpected annoyance begins to well up inside me, mostly because she strikes a nerve with what I have to admit is the truth. I spout off because I really don’twantto admit or deal with it. “Is this where you whip out your psycho-babble and tell me I’ve got trust issues or daddy issues or commitment issues? Who are you to give relationship advice when you’re on your third marriage?”

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