Page 40 of The Husband Diet
He hesitated and then shrugged. He was worse than me, this one, and I could tell by the angle of his shoulders it wasn’t his favorite topic of conversation.
‘Every day,’ he whispered. ‘But life goes on.’
I gaped in surprise. I hadn’t expected such a candid admission from a guy who seemingly had it all together. I opened my mouth to say something equally intelligent and honest, but he looked out my window and I turned, too. We’d arrived.
‘Nice,’ he said.
He means the house, not you, you idiot.‘Thanks,’ I said as I catapulted out of his car as if the seat had suddenly caught fire. At least mine had. The physical attraction for this guy was becoming more and more unbearable by the day. Funny, when you think he thought I was a real mess. And then I put my foot in it. ‘You really should come by – for coffee. And to see that I’m not such a bad mother, after all.’
He searched my face to see if I was serious and finally grinned. ‘I’d love to, thank you.’
I slapped my forehead. ‘Aw, crap.’
He sat forward. ‘What’s wrong?’
The kids. I’d almost forgotten them. Where had the time gone? Great. Now I’d never get him off my case. There was no way I was going to confess him that much. ‘Er, what time is it, please?’
‘Six. What time are the kids done at Sudbury Street?’
‘In five minutes,’ I said meekly, knowing I was never getting rid of him now.
He grinned that oh-so-sexy grin at me again, motioning me back in with a flick of his head as if beckoning me back into his bed after a hot session of no-limits sex.
‘Hop in. I know a shortcut.’
I eyed him, embarrassed, then obeyed. ‘You’re right – I am the worst mother in the world. But I swear I’ve never, ever—’
‘Erica,’ he said softly. ‘I’ve never indicated anything like that. Why would you even think that?’
‘Hello? All those questions about my family life?’ I said defensively.
‘I’m sure you make everyone’s life better,’ he said as he turned to look at me, his eyes X-raying me to the core.
I swallowed. It wasn’t fair that he was so hot and in a position to judge me. Normally, I can pulverize any hot man who tries to make me feel uncomfortable, but Julian – how do you pulverize your kids’ principal, especially when just looking at him makes your skin tingle?
*
When I got in with the kids, who were still waving Julian off with big fat smiles, I made an insane dash for the house phone that was ringing on the hook.
‘Oh, it’s you,’ I said to Judy, who had undoubtedly called to secure my silence.
Who did I think it was? Julian calling me from his jeep thirty seconds after dropping us all off, saying,Hi, I just wanted to tell you what a great time I had acting as your cab driver today?
‘Oh, lighten up, Erica. Everyone nowadays has someone,’ she drawled. ‘You could use someumphyourself,’ she said. ‘Get yourself a lover.’
I was surprised Marcy hadn’t spread the word about my marital problems yet. Maybe she was mellowing a bit. ‘A lover?’ I said. ‘I’d never do that.’
‘Of course you wouldn’t, lest you actually find some happiness.’
Judy was right. The kids were still oohing and aahing about being picked up by their champion principal, and I had to admit, I wasn’t totally unaffected, either. Maybe Judy’s wandering eye was contagious. Or even genetic. It hadn’t manifested itself in twelve years of marriage, so why was I suddenly feeling jittery and breathless after sitting next to my kids’ principal in his jeep? Just because my marriage was over didn’t mean I was going to throw myself into another relationship. I was done with love. But the erotic dreams of Julian were mine forever.
I heard my sister take a drag from a cigarette and puff out.
‘When did you start smoking again?’ I asked in surprise, happy to get my mind off that afternoon that had started like hell but ended very nicely. Too nicely for my sanity.
She inhaled again and muttered, ‘You see? You’re the world’s biggest prude. I wonder why Ira hasn’t left you yet.’
I bared my teeth, even if she wasn’t there to see it.
