Compass (Second Chances 1)

“The sooner the better,” Tilly agrees with a nod of her head. “Invite him over to your place tonight. I promise I’ll stay home.”

I laugh out loud. “It’s not happening tonight.”

“Why not?” They ask in unison.

I shake my head. “I need time to process everything.”

The server approaches with our order of nachos. He strikes up a conversation with Olivia about Alexander’s recent interview on a podcast he listens to. It’s obvious he knows that Olivia’s husband is one of the preeminent orchestra conductors in the world.

Olivia promises that she’ll bring her husband in for one lunch day soon. That’s enough to get the server to offer a free dessert to each of us.

“I love your husband,” Tilly says once the server has walked away. “He’s such a big deal that I get a free brownie.”

Olivia giggles. “I’m having cheesecake.”

I’m having a crisis.

It started last night when Gage confessed that he hasn’t had sex in five years.

I tossed and turned the night away thinking about that.

I was hesitant the first time I got into bed with a man after our breakup, but I knew I had to move on.

I enjoyed the sex I’ve had since our engagement ended. I don’t feel guilty about it, although I know I wouldn’t have pursued anything with another man if I had known Gage was looking for me.

Eldred got a piece of my mind after Gage left last night and another dose of my anger this morning.

My brother told me that he was looking out for me. He saw the pain I was in after Gage left me, and he wanted to shield me from that.

I get it.

I hate it, but I understand it.

Our bond is strong, but it’s going to take time for me to accept what he did.

Maybe Gage and I wouldn’t have gotten back together, but we didn’t have the chance to explore that because Eldred stood watch over my heart.

“I know that I’ve been telling you to be careful, Kate.” Olivia elbows me. “But I don’t know many men who would step away from sex because of a woman they haven’t seen in years.”

I spread my white linen napkin over my lap, covering my red skirt.

“I think you should throw caution to the wind.” Tilly circles her hand in the air. “You only live once. Second chances are rare so take this one and run with it.”

A soft whimper from the stroller lures all of our gazes to Arleth’s face.

She opens her blue eyes, immediately locking them on her mom.

“We’ll continue this discussion later,” Olivia says, scooping her daughter into her arms. “I need to feed this little sweetheart and we have to eat the nachos before they get cold. They are Alexander’s absolute favorite things in the world. Take a bite and you’ll see why.”

I dive into lunch and listening mode as Olivia tells us about how close Arleth came to rolling over this morning.

I eat and watch my two best friends interact. They’ve forged a bond of their own since they met through me. I’m grateful for moments like this when we’re altogether.

I’m just about to tell them that when my phone chimes in my purse.

I slide it out and read the simple text message.

Gage: A penny for your thoughts?