"I slept with Wolfe."
Kate sputtered into a coughing fit. Kennedy's eyes widened with admiration. Arilyn gasped.
Silence settled over the room. The three of them took big slugs from their bottles, then settled.
"I didn't see that coming," Kate admitted. "I mean, I suspected you guys were hot for each other for a while, but I thought you were doing the friend thing."
"Is that why you're wearing the scarf?" Kennedy asked. "To hide the evidence?"
"Yep."
"Damn, girl. Was it amazing?"
Gen collapsed into the last empty chair and slumped down. "Yes. More amazing then you can ever imagine."
"I always knew you two would burn up the bedroom," Kennedy commented. "My main problem is your face. Why do you look miserable?"
Arilyn reached out and took her hand. "Honey, what happened? You should be giddy and over the moon."
"It was a night I'll never forget," she murmured. "I felt as if we were one. Completely bonded, and so deep inside each other we'd never be whole without the other."
Kate sighed. "I know that feeling."
"Best feeling in the world," Kennedy agreed.
Arilyn remained silent.
"But then morning came."
"Fucking dawn screws up everything," Kennedy growled, taking another sip of liquor. "Did he get spooked?"
"Majorly. Explained he didn't want to ruin our friendship and that he could never be in a committed relationship. Said he was broken and he'd end up hurting me."
Kate shook her head. "Sounds like Kennedy when she fell for Nate."
"Shut up, Kate. I came to my senses. Sounds to me like Slade and all his crap about divorce and oxytocin."
Kate stuck out her tongue.
Gen laughed, loving the way serious talk was always mixed with the wretched humor life threw at them. "He'll never tell me about his past. I know it's bad. How can I force him into a relationship he doesn't want? And what about our friendship? I don't want to lose him either. The whole thing is a mess. Stupid sex. Stupid fifteen orgasms."
Arilyn gasped. "Fifteen?"
"Holy shit," Kennedy whispered.
"No wonder you're walking funny," Kate said. "These men keep upping the ante, don't they?"
"Why does sex have to complicate everything?" Gen groaned.
"Because it feels too good not to have to pay," Kennedy said. "Do we have a plan of action? What do you want?"
Frustration and helplessness warred. Both won. "Doesn't matter. I need to deal with reality. I told Wolfe to move out, but he refused, swearing he'll get us back on the ground of friendship."
Arilyn murmured in sympathy. Kate told the truth. "Men are brain-dead, sometimes. Each time you look at each other you'll be thinking of sex. Slade and I tried to ignore our attraction for a long time, but eventually we broke."
"Yep. It's When Harry Met Sally all over again. Once you do the dirty deed, friendship takes a backseat," Kennedy quipped.
Gen glared. "Not making me feel better about this, guys."
Arilyn smiled and patted her hand. "Maybe he needs some time. I've found confronting men and demanding certain things make them defensive. But if you just continue as is, living with each other, dealing with the sexual tension, eventually he'll break. Drag you into bed. The body is weak, especially a man's penis. After enough times of sleeping together, you'll just fall into a relationship without needing to speak of it or define it."
They all stared at Arilyn. Since she refused to talk about her on-again, off-again relationship with her yoga teacher, refusing to even name him, any nugget of information was gold.
"Like Yoga Dude?" Kate asked.
Arilyn shut down. "Just a general observation," she muttered, lapsing back into silence.
Kate and Kennedy sighed in defeat.
"He's using David as an excuse to stay close, but I don't think I'm in any danger. David has probably moved on, and there's been no contact since the night at the station."
"He never pressed charges against Wolfe?" Arilyn asked.
"No. The restraining order is still valid but he dropped assault charges. Probably knew the truth would come out in court."
"Asshole," Kennedy said. "I still don't trust him. Abusers retreat only when they have a plan in place, and if he still wants you, he's coming back."
Gen shivered. She knew Kennedy didn't mean to scare her, and it was a fair warning, but another reason she could never go back to the hospital was David. Just seeing his face brought the past roaring back. The way she'd become weaker and slipped away day by day. The control and abuse he finely wielded like a weapon, hiding it from everyone. She hated the woman she'd been during their relationship, but finally recognized she'd been strong enough to run when she could. How much better she understood now women who stayed. She remembered how badly David wanted to begin having children quickly. She would've been trapped in a nightmare, like so many others out there. Goose bumps broke out on her arms and her heart ached for strangers she didn't know but finally understood. Strong women. Independent women. Smart women.
"I'm still being careful," she said. "I just don't like Wolfe using it as an excuse."
"Hmm. Well, you have a few options. You can insist he leave and then deal with the fallout. You can allow him to stay and see how your relationship evolves. Or you can greet him when he gets home bare-assed naked with a smile. He wouldn't last three seconds."
Gen laughed at Kate's speech and finished up her Baileys. "All good options. I'll have to think. Maybe see where the week leads."
"Has your family come around? I know David manipulated them big-time."
Gen nodded. "I've been spending more time with them. Being honest is hard. I was so embarrassed and hid so much it was easy for David to spin his own tales. But Alexa and Mom support my decision, and even Dad is slowly coming around. Izzy said I did the right thing. Actually called me brave."
"You are. We're all here for you," Kate said. "You'll never be alone again. And when there's man trouble, best friends are the key."
Emotion clogged her throat. The other girls nodded, and Gen felt embraced by bonds as strong as family, because of the choice they made to be together. Sometimes choice was stronger than blood.
"Thanks. Love you guys."
Kennedy rolled her eyes. "Let'
s get the group hug over with so we can get back to work."
Robert barked.
Laughing, they all hugged in a circle, and for the first time, Gen felt hopeful. She'd keep an open mind and heart and see how things went. She'd never stop loving Wolfe, but if it was possible to sustain a friendship, she'd try anything.
twenty-two
WOLFE GLANCED AROUND and double-checked the setup. A case of Sam Adams. Bacon cheeseburgers and fries from Mugs. A carton of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Stack of DVDs on the table, ready to fire up. Scrabble board.
Yes. He was covered. Everything screamed all of their favorite things to do together as friends. Best buds. He wouldn't have any sexual thoughts, even if she wore something ridiculously skimpy. He already had the photo of pregnant nuns paused in his brain, ready to fire at the first sign of arousal.
He could do this. He had to convince her they could be friends again or he'd lose her completely.
Wasn't an option.
She came through the door looking tired. Her hair was pinned back and loose waves escaped and framed her cheeks. The sun made her freckles stand out more, a cute smattering over her nose. Her lipstick had worn off, showing the natural pink of her lips. Her petite, lush frame was wrapped in a short denim dress that flirted above her knees and flattered her hourglass body. She kicked off her beaded flats, threw her purse down, and tore the clip from her hair.
"I'm tired and cranky and you'd better not ask what's for dinner."
She was magnificent.
He grinned and got to work grabbing the plates and serving an ice-cold beer. "Got takeout so we didn't have to worry. Why don't you put on some sweats and I'll have this ready?"
She grunted her approval, taking a deep sniff of the burgers, and trudged into the bedroom.
He had everything ready when she popped back out in yoga pants and a purple tank top with the Kinnections logo on it. Her feet were bare and he caught the flash of bubble gum toenails. Remembered how her toes would curl under when he hit one of her sensitive areas, especially when his mouth was--
No. Focus. Nuns.
He breathed and motioned her to sit. "All ready. Shit day?"
She took a big bite of the burger and whimpered. "So good. Nah, just tired. I didn't get much sleep."
The words flew from her mouth like a cannon shot. Their gazes crashed together, remembering the reason they hadn't slept, and Wolfe cleared his throat, breaking the connection. "Uh, yeah. Anything new and exciting going on with Kinnections?" That should be a safe subject.