Page 25 of Heat Exchange
“Yeah. But he wanted to set up a time when he could come get some more of his stuff.”
Lydia sighed. “Maybe when he does, you should tell him you miss him.”
“He wanted to coordinate the time so I wouldn’t be there.”
Her sister’s quietly spoken words broke Lydia’s heart and she stopped walking. “Ashley, do you really want this separation?”
“I don’t know.” They faced each other on the sidewalk and Lydia saw the strain in Ashley’s eyes and around her mouth. “I wasn’t happy with him. I’m not happy without him. I keep telling myself it’s because this part is the hardest and I’ll be happy...someday.”
“I know I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but you guys really need to talk.” The more time she spent back in Boston, the more convinced she became that neither Ashley nor Danny wanted a divorce.
“I think I’m going to tell him to come over when I’m home. He can have his stuff if he takes a few minutes to talk to me.”
“I’m not sure ransoming his belongings is a step forward in marital communications.”
Ashley shrugged and put her hand on the door of the restaurant. “Maybe not, but it’s a start.”
She yanked the door open and walked inside before Lydia could say anything else. Becca and Courtney waved to them from a back table, and Lydia felt her mood magically improve just from seeing their faces.
Courtney was rocking some kind of chic, blond, sharply angled haircut and sophisticated makeup, probably inspired by her fancy office job. Becca was going to keep holding on to her big hair and black eyeliner until it came back into style, Lydia thought, hugging them each in turn.
They all talked over each other for a few minutes, catching up. Thanks to texting, email and late-night phone calls, there wasn’t a lot of catching up to do, but nothing beat the energy of being all together in the same place.
The wine flowed and they each ate an entire week’s worth of carbs. Maybe more, Lydia thought, looking at the mess of empty pasta plates and bread baskets they’d made of the table.
They were all considering dessert when Lydia’s phone chimed and she saw that it was from Aidan. Even though nobody would be able to see the screen from their seats, she felt compelled to hold the phone under the edge of the table with her head bowed to read his message.
Iwant to see you.
They were just words on the phone screen, but in her mind Lydia heard Aidan’s deep voice saying them, and a chill went down her spine.
Are you drunk texting me?
No.If I was drunk I would text that I want to...never mind.See?Not drunk.
Screw that. She wanted to know what he wanted to do, in detail.
Maybe you should get drunk later and text me the end of that sentence.
Or I could get drunk and show up at your place to DO the end of that sentence to you.
She laughed and, when Ashley cleared her throat and Lydia looked up, realized they were all staring at her. “Sorry. I really hope you guys weren’t talking about something terrible or sad right then.”
“Who are you talking to?” Ashley asked.
“Nobody.” She looked back down at her phone to type a response.
I’m staying with Ash,so no.And you have to stop.
“Nobody seems funny,” Becca said, propping her chin on her hand. “Is he hot?”
“Who says it’s a he?”
Stop what?
“You look flustered,” Courtney said. “A little hot and bothered, even.”
“No, I certainly don’t look hot and bothered. Or if I do, it’s because it’s hot in here, but I’m not bothered.” Maybe just a little.
