Turning to face them, I’m met with huge grins. Oh yeah, they’ve picked up on something.
“As much as I want to hear what that’s all about—” Alyssa says then taps her hand on the seat next to her. I sit. “I want to know how you’re doing after, you know…the publicized…incident. We haven’t had a chance to catch up. After the show we couldn’t reach you.”
“Thank you for your messages. Things were so chaotic. I wasn’t in the right headspace to talk and needed time to myself. Then at Oaks Valley cell reception was bad, and I only called Claudia to check on things. I’m sorry I never responded.”
Harper waves a dismissive hand. “Don’t apologize. We understand it was a difficult time. If you don’t want to talk about what happened, you don’t have to.”
“No, I don’t mind.”
From the moment I met Harper and Alyssa while organizing a party for Harper’s family, we immediately clicked. I’ve only known them for a few months, yet it feels like years. Apartfrom Claudia, I’ve never had other girlfriends to talk to. Trust. Open up with. It’s a great feeling to have so much support and friendship.
I fill them in on how Lucas found me at my lowest, surrounded by paparazzi at the hotel. How instead of going on what would have been my honeymoon with Claudia I couldn’t because more photographers were waiting at the airport. So Lucas took me to his cabin. I tell them about going online and reading what was being said about me. Seeing humiliating photos, and how I let go of pent-up emotions I’d been holding onto. I don’t go into detail about how Lucas brought me from a dark place. Or how he kissed me. Touched me. Those moments are private and will live in my heart forever.
“Thank God Lucas was there to help you,” Harper says.
I’ll always be grateful for everything he’s done—and is still doing—for me.
“Have you spoken to Darren? I can’t believe the rubbish he’s spreading about you having an affair.” Alyssa rolls her eyes, clearly not believing his lies. “He and Karen Featherstone should be ashamed of their disgusting behavior.”
“No. Not since I left the apartment. I never want to speak to him again. How did I not see what a douchebag he was?”
“Love is blind,” Harper offers.
I shake my head. “That would be true if I loved him. If anything, his affair made me open my eyes and face how I really feel about him. I’m ashamed to admit it, but being with Darren was convenient. Comfortable. The video made me mad because he humiliated me. I confused it for being heartbroken. I wasn’t—I’m not. I don’t miss him. I don’t love him.” It only took a couple of days and being with Lucas to realize it.
“I hate the humiliation you went through to get to the place you’re at. No one should be treated that way. I’m glad you didn’tgo through with the wedding. It would have been a disaster,” Harper says as she pats Avery’s diaper when she stirs.
Sighing, I slump back into the couch pillows. “Me too.” I hate to think what my life with him would have turned into. I inwardly shudder. “Can we talk about something else? I don’t want to think about Darren anymore.”
“Then how about we talk about the cute nickname and wink Lucas gave you before going into the kitchen,” Alyssa suggests. “Alone in the woods and secluded from everyone, did you and Lucas get up to anything fun and exciting? Tell me you had amazing revenge sex.” Alyssa gives me a playful grin as she rocks Sadie in her arms.
Heat flames my cheeks, and I avert my eyes for a beat.
Alyssa’s grin grows wider. “You did! I knew it. As soon as I saw the two of you together I could see sparks flying. Something about the way you looked at each other. This makes me so happy.”
“Now Lucas is my brother-in-law, so I don’t want to know all the juicy details—”
“I want to hear them and he’s my brother-in-law too,” Alyssa interrupts Harper.
“That’s because you’re sick.” Harper laughs.
Alyssa shrugs, not looking offended at Harper’s comment. “Was it fantastic? Who initiated it? How many times did you do it? Wait…” Alyssa pauses and frowns like a thought just hit her. “Don’t you and Lucas hate each other? I should be asking if you nearly killed each other.”
I could play dumb and avoid the questions. But I don’t want to. If I don’t share something with someone, I’m going to explode, and who better than my friends? “Yes, it was fantastic. I initiated it. Lost count of how many times. We nearly did kill each other. Now there’s no more hate.”
We all burst into giggles.
It feels wonderful to be so free with close friends. Claudia and I have been friends for years, and there’s not much we don’t know about each other, yet when was the last time we had girl talk and giggled like we were teenagers? Lately all we seem to talk about is work.
“I love this so much,” Harper says gleefully. “Lucas needs a woman like you in his life.”
I jerk back. “Arrhh. Don’t get too excited. This isn’t turning into anything.”
“Why not?” Harper raises an eyebrow. “There’s obviously chemistry zapping between the two of you.”
“I can’t deny the chemistry, but that’s all it is.”
Alyssa scratches the side of her face. “Why are you staying in his penthouse if nothing is happening?”