Page 44 of The Lies You Love
“Lindsey,” I supply for her. “What did they want?”
“Don’t you talk to them? They didn’t know you’d be out of town.”
I pause. I told Betty I was going but didn’t say when. It’s been over a week since I spoke to the other women. “We don’t keep in as close contact as you and I do. Betty knew I was coming because I’d been helping her through an affair, but they’re all married and have busy lives.”
“Affair?”
I swallow hard. Gossip. It makes me uncomfortable because I’d never want Ramsey to think I talk about her behind her back.
“She was cheating with some Australian who tends bar at Silver Moon. She broke up with him and wants to make it work with her husband. She is sort of relying on me for tough love advice.”
Ramsey is silent. Too silent for someone who loves drama. “I think I know who you’re talking about,” she says, voice small. She changes the subject. “They came in after lunch and wanted to say hello is all. Margot bought a bunch of stuff for her dog and Lindsey only talked about how she would reorganize the front display window for a more aesthetically pleasing design.”
“Ugh. Of course, she would. Lindsey is the worst. Thanks again for taking care of the store for me. You know it’s been a long time since I went anywhere because of being tethered to it.”
“Anytime. Hey, get the dirt on your boy-toy while you’re there. It might be your only opportunity.”
I agree even though I’d never push my luck. After Ramsey tells me she’ll check in tomorrow, we say goodbye. The urge to call Betty is strong because I want to know if she told our other friends. If they were all together, chances are the beans were spilled. I have some idea how each of our friends would react, but this is no-man's-land. This situation hasn’t come up, quite like this before. On second thought, she probably is taking this one to her grave. I get changed and walk down the hallway to find Beck. Pausing in front of Maisey’s room, I want to peek in once more. Just really quick, I think. No one will know. I push in quietly and walk around admiring the same things I did before except I don’t ration how long my gaze fixates on any one thing because there’s no one here with me. I walk to the window and see Beck and his parents out back in their enormous garden. He has his arm around his dad’s shoulder, and his mom looks on fondly. I’m an interloper as I have been my entire life. This wisp of a person who never really belongs anywhere. My parents have each other. My ex has his sexuality and the life he’s always wanted. My friends have their own lives. Sure, I have my store and apartment, but the closest to belonging anywhere has been right here and now.
My throat clogs with emotion as I watch a neighbor boy slip into a side gate and run up to Beck and his parents. His dad offers him a small bin of fruit, and Beck ruffles his dirty blond hair. I lean on one of the posts of Maisey’s canopy bed and quiet my racing thoughts. I get out my cell phone and text my parents hello and a quick I love you. They both respond immediately because they are great parents. Why have I never felt like this with them? Beck is waiting for me at the back door when I finally make it down.
“You took long enough!” He kisses me on the lips and my body zings to life.
“Ramsey called to check in. Sorry, we got to talking.”
Like most times when I bring up my friend, Beck’s face falls. He only nods. “Is she okay?” His tone is sincere.
“Why do you always ask about her?” I narrow my eyes, curiosity getting the best of me.
He frowns, looking away. “She seems like trouble. I mean, she invited you to that party and is dating Griffin. Need I say more?”
I smirk. “You’re right. She is usually my most troublesome friend. She’s fine, I guess. Weird lately like she’s hiding something from me, but Ramsey is good with secrets.”
I’m not sure if he doesn’t ask more because he’s worried about appearing too curious or if he really doesn’t care, but he whisks me out to the garden and gives me the full tour. I could spend days out here, and it’s quite obvious by the state of things that his parents do spend days out here tending the plants. A flower garden sprawls in a circular pattern on the back corner of their lot that backs up to an open field, and there’s a massive pool and deck on the other corner. Everything in between is plants. There are rocky trails in between beds and wrought iron trellis arches with ivy wrapping the bars. It’s magic. “I’ve never seen anything this pretty before. It belongs in a museum or something.”
“The city has asked if they’d ever consider opening it up to the public, but this is something they do just for them. It’s another reason they’ll never leave here. It took them many years to get it to this point. After Maisey died, they heaved even more energy this way and now it’s basically all they do.”
I lose my breath when I shield my eyes from the sun and take in the expanse of it all. “It’s not perfect.” He chuckles. “According to Mom, bed fourteen needs to be weeded before we get to have dinner. I always help out when I’m home. I hope you don’t mind. This is their love language.” His smile is crooked and my heart thumps wildly in my chest, reminding me how fortunate I am to have a second chance to fall for this gorgeous man. Reminding me how lucky I am to be alive.
****
Manual labor isn’t so bad when you’re doing it in the equivalent of the Royal Gardens. We weeded the bed and picked anything ripe we found like his dad asked, and then came in for cool tea and showers before dinner. I got a head start in the shower before Beck joined me.
“There’s not a fireballs chance in hell we’re fucking in this shower.”
He moves around me to steal the warm water. “Is that so. As long as you know I could convince you to if I wanted to.”
I act outraged. “Does that mean you don’t want to?” I lean into his hot chest and try to get the remnants of the soap off my body as his hands are busy shampooing his hair.
“Auden, I want to, I always want to, but I’m not so feral that if you tell me no to shower sex, I’ll keep asking.”
Kissing his chest, I agree with his answer. “You never know with you. Sometimes you’re full-on caveman and other times you’re polite.”
He grins, closing his eyes so soap doesn’t get in them. “It’s part of my charm.” He circles me in his arms and my head swims like it does anytime I’m naked with him. “Can you check my phone? I think Griffin texted while we were outside.”
Stunned for a moment, I merely nod. Trust with the phone is big, right? He kisses me until I wish we were having sex, then pats me on the ass as I get out. “Tonight, we play a new game, just so you know.”
I shake my head, unable to keep the smile off my face. “What game would that be?”
