He’d carried her from the couch to his bed, thinking she’d be closer to the bathroom if she got sick, and he’d be close enough to help her get there.
“It was a rough night,” he conceded, speaking as much for himself as for her.
“So...is this it, then? I shouldn’t sit around expecting a call from you?”
Watching her, he wanted to be able to give her what she wanted. Thou
ght he’d be able to. As soon as he got the thing with Mallory under control.
And he told her so.
“So...call me,” she said.
“I will.”
He meant what he said, but didn’t bother going to the door as she let herself out.
* * *
Embarrassed beyond anything she could ever have imagined, Mallory didn’t answer any of Braden’s calls over the next couple of days. She texted him to let him know that she and the babies were fine. And almost texted to cancel their lunch set up for the following Tuesday.
They’d been through much worse. Their friendship, which had taken three years to build, was the envy of many. She wasn’t going to lose him now.
But the thought of him with another woman cut deeply. All she wanted to do was cry. In fact, she was afraid that she would do exactly that when she saw him, which was why she seriously considered canceling.
It was just because she was pregnant. She knew that. She’d been extra teary with Tucker, too, and figured, carrying two, maybe she’d be twice as bad this time around.
But how humiliating to be calling him to give him what he wanted and have another woman in bed with him.
Every time she thought about it she wanted to curl up in a corner and hide her head.
In one sense, her life was fuller than she’d ever thought it would be again. And in another, she’d never felt more alone.
She’d be a mother, but not a partner.
Her choice, she reminded herself. And knowing herself, she figured it was a good one.
So why did it hurt so much?
She was trying to tell herself it didn’t when she entered the restaurant where she and Bray had agreed to meet. It was a different place—Mexican, which she loved—and a bit further from work. He’d had an appointment nearby and had thought it looked nice.
He’d been right. Inside, the decor was colorful and bright, and the people were friendly. She felt at home as, at her request, they walked her through the inside to a private patio off the back. Completely enclosed by trees and greenery, the area hosted eight or so tables, with umbrellas over them. In the middle of them, a tall rock fountain, with flowing water, gave a feeling of privacy and peace.
All but one of the tables was full, so she knew where she was going. She’d barely settled in her seat before Braden was there, asking for two glasses of ice tea and then privacy until they motioned for service.
She’d never heard him be quite so forceful. He wasn’t impolite, but his usual easygoing, friendly demeanor was definitely not present.
“I’m sorry I didn’t return your calls,” she said immediately, trying to ward off any undue tension between them before it got out of hand.
He leaned in toward her, his tie caught between the wrought-iron table and his chest. “I did not have sex with Anna.”
Waving a hand as though she wasn’t suddenly lightheaded with relief, she said, “It’s none of my business, Bray. You can sleep with whomever you like. You know that.”
“The point is, I didn’t.”
He was serious, looking her right in the eye. For some reason this was important to him. “Okay.”
As he sat back, their tea was delivered, as though their waiter had been watching and waiting for his cue.