Page 50 of The Wife
She didn’t ask. Just popped up when the second episode was over and said goodnight.
Yes, something was different. We weren’t who we were pre-kiss. We weren’t who we were pre-Carol. We weren’t who we were during-Carol (Thank you God!).
We were something else now. I wasn’t necessarily sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but the next day when I took a break to grab lunch I saw another disk had been added to the right scale.
Seven.
Progress, I thought. But progress towards what?
* * *
“Hey, I’m heading to Pete’s.”
I looked up from the article I was reading inMontana Weeklyon popular bull sperm donors. Yes, sometimes I spent way too much time focusing on bull sperm.
“Okay.”
It was homecoming. I knew Chrissy, Lisa, and Karen were all home this weekend.
“It’ll be good, you seeing your girls.”
She beamed. “I know. I’m excited.”
“You know not to do something as stupid as what I did last week.”
“Uh, yeah.”
“You drink too much, call me and I’ll come pick you up.”
“I promise.”
I watched her leave and I tried not to stare too hard at her ass. She was wearing tight dark jeans and her cowboy boots. She’d curled her hair so it bounced around her shoulders.
Geezus, sometimes I forgot how freaking gorgeous she was.
She was going to be at a bar, looking like that. I didn’t want to think about it.
I went back to reading my article but the words ran together. I got up and decided I needed a shower. Something to do so I wasn’t thinking about her out with the girls while every guy at Pete’s ogled her.
Okay, not every guy. There would be some who had known Ellie her whole life who wouldn’t look at her that way. Like I had up until a year ago.
Fuck.
I turned the hot water on and I thought about maybe heading to Pete’s myself. I didn’t have to hang out with her. I could just be there. That way she would know if she wanted to let loose a little I would have her back. She wouldn’t have to be worried about calling me.
That was a solid plan. Done with the shower, I got out, dried myself off, splashed on some cologne. A birthday present from Ellie this summer. Did I consider the fact that I was picking out what I knew was her favorite shirt to wear?
No.
Okay yes, but I was in denial about it so it didn’t matter.
I jogged down the stairs and grabbed my good coat (another present from Ellie), not my working coat, off the hook.
As I got into my truck, I paused for a second.
Was this creepy? Was I going all stalker on her?
No, I thought. It was Friday night. I could head into town for a beer. And if I was there to give her a ride home, no big deal.
