Page 83 of The Shifting Sands Beneath Us
I laughed, remembering her fury at me last night. “I pissed her off, which I seem to be doing a lot of lately. She was upset because my housekeeper saw her in my t-shirt.”
“So?”
“Only my t-shirt.”
He nodded at that. “You know, I’m not sure which I should be more surprised at, that she was in your t-shirt or that you have a housekeeper.”
“Why does it surprise you that she was in my t-shirt?”
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that she’s your wife.”
“Me too, and I’m failing miserably at it, which is why I have this,” I said, holding up my thumb again. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to lose the nail.”
“You’ll be lucky if that’s all you lose.”
“I thought for sure that it was all a bad joke when she showed up here. I was afraid my wife was going to walk in at any moment, and then Alisha informed me shewasmy wife.”
“Talk about being the last to know,” he laughed.
I nodded, but then an idea struck. “You know, if she’s here, that means Clarissa is here.”
A grin tilted his lips. “And you want me to help you.”
“You know you want to see her again.”
“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. I live in Georgia. The last thing I need is to get wrapped up in her when it can’t go anywhere.”
“You’re here now, aren’t you?”
“For business.”
“When do you leave?”
He eyed me warily for a moment. “Early tomorrow morning.”
I knew him well enough from our college days. I could always tell when he was lying. His right eyebrow raised slightly, just enough to tell me he was trying really hard to keep a straight face. “When are you really leaving?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Bullshit.”
“Not bullshit.” His right eyebrow climbed a little higher.
“Then you don’t mind staying up all night with me to entertain my wife and her friend. You know, to save my marriage.”
“I wish I could, but…”
“But what? We’ve been friends forever. You’re telling me you can’t come out with me tonight in the name of helping a friend?”
At this point, his eyebrow was higher than I’d ever seen it. I almost started laughing, but this was serious, and I needed him on my side. I needed to remind Rose of the way we were.
“Fine, but I need to be in by ten.”
“Ten?” I scoffed.
“Fine, midnight at the latest.”
“Good. Now, why the hell did you fly all the way up here?”