Page 73 of Sugar Coated Lies
If I could, I’d stay in this bubble of heaven we’ve created until Daire kicks me out, but that’s not realistic. Reality is a man whose ashes are in Carol’s possession, waiting to be joined with Grandma and the rest of my family. Reality is my future at the farm and what that looks like now that I’ve slept with the boss.
Reality is a home of memories and heartache waiting for me to pack them up and move on.
I only have myself to care for now. I don’t need to provide financial support for anyone else. I don’t need the farm job if things get weird between Daire and me and I have to leave. I could work anywhere. Here, even. I could live with Sadie. I could go back to school.
Of course, I’ll always have to work. There isn’t an insurance policy like we had when Grandma passed. It was all I could do to pay the bills. But I don’t need much. I can live off very little. I have for most of my life.
Leaving here will change things between Daire and me, and that’s a scary thought because I’ve fallen in love with him. How could I not? He’s magnificent in all ways and treats me like a queen.
It’s probably time I call Sadie. The reason I haven’t is because I’ll have to tell her everything, relive it all, and explain what I’ve been doing in Atlanta with my boss. She’ll call me out for falling for him and jeopardizing my future at the farm. She knows how much I love it. We text regularly, and I always talk about how much I love it. Once she learns about Grandpa, though, she might not care that I slept with Daire.
* * *
Daireand I get lunch from my new favorite bistro and then hit the Atlanta Zoo. I’ve never been to a zoo and am surprised by how much I like it.
I’ve also never spent this many days ordering food and not cooking for myself. It feels off. That part of me wants to return to my old routine until I remember I don’t have one anymore, other than working at the farm. I don’t think Daire will fire me, but we need to talk about everything, and I need to tell him it’s time to go back.
* * *
I insiston making grilled cheese, apple, pecan sandwiches for dinner. We watch an old rom-com movie, snuggled on the couch and wrapped in a blanket I found in the guest room.
“Why are there clothes in the guest room closet?” I ask after the movie ends. His closet is big enough for those few items as well as many more.
He pauses and scratches his head, looking like I asked him to recite the Chinese alphabet.
“Uh. A friend visits sometimes. They must be his. I didn’t know they were in there.”
“I’ve never met any of your friends.” I fold the blanket and hang it over the back of the couch while Daire carries our glasses to the kitchen sink.
“My friends are immature jerks. You’re better off not meeting them.”
“If they’re jerks, why are you friends with them?”
He scratches the back of his head. “I’ve been asking myself that a lot lately.”
“Do any of them live here in Atlanta?” They must.
“Nope.” He shakes his head and walks toward the bedroom. “After college, we all went our separate ways.”
I follow him into the dark room. “I get that. I separated from Sadie during college. It happens.”
He switches on the nightstand lamp and eyes me strangely, a hint of pain in his eyes.
“We should talk.” I blurt the words I’ve been dreading all day.
His shoulders stiffen. “We should get naked and in bed first. That way, I’ll know you can’t escape.”
I laugh. “I’m not going anywhere. I just want to talk. It’s time. I’ve been avoiding it for long enough.”
“Avoiding what?”
“The real world.”
Daire nods and strips, standing gloriously naked as if he knows his incredible body distracts me like nothing else.
“Your turn.” He winks, and I know we’ll be having sex. I just don’t know if it will be before we talk or after. I’m not complaining. Sex with Daire is my new favorite pastime. You could say I’m addicted. But the same could be said for him, too.
We slide under the covers, our heads on the pillows, and face each other. Daire takes my hand and places it against his chest, over his heart.
