Page 53 of Roar for Me
“Don’t play innocent. We all saw what you two were doing out there just now.”
Duncan gave Mike a sideways glance. “Oh, um, that was … err …”
“Obscene?” Mike winked. “X-rated?”
Duncan snorted. “I was thinking hot as fuck.”
“‘Fuck’ is a very good word to describe that.”
“Except we weren’t.”
“You might as well have been.”
“Sorry,Dad.”
Mike howled. “I’m teasing, man. You were clearly enjoying yourselves.”
“No worries.” Duncan laughed. “You were right, by the way. All those years ago? That anonymous candy cane was from her.”
Mike crowed and punched the air.
“But her life ishere. What am I going to do?” He looked down at the sink.
“Worry about that later. Tonight, all you have to do ismake it count.” Mike gave him an encouraging slap on the back as he left.
“Having fun?” Dave grinned as he approached Aurora.
She was drinking down water like it was going out of style. She smiled at her old friend. Was she oblivious to the audience she and Duncan had been entertaining?
“Honestly, Dave, I haven’t felt this alive since before Jeff died.” Her answer took him by surprise.
“Jeff?”
“Jeff Brown? My late husband? Katie’s dad?” She took another drink, still out of breath. “He passed away from cancer about five years ago.”
The joke he was going to make about her and Duncan died on his lips. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
Aurora’s mouth dropped open. “I thought Jen would have told you. She has to know, since Katie is in her club.” She looked down at the bar. “I mean … I know we didn’t exactly try to keep up the friendship when you transferred colleges. Which I regret, you know.”
“Me, too.” Dave’s brows dipped together.“Cancer. That’s just awful. How long was he sick?”
“Well, the last time was the shortest. I want to say about five months.”
“Thelasttime?”
“Yeah, he beat it twice. But when it came around for round three, his body was too tired to handle it again.”
Dave stared at a woman he once dared call a friend. But he felt like he didn’t have a right to that title anymore. To go through all that and not even mention it when they finally reconnected showed a level of strength he wasn’t sure he himself possessed. Now that theyhadreconnected, he resolved to keep the friendship going this time. Aurora finished her water and looked up at him.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to dump all that on you. It’s been five years. And like I said, I’m fine—really! Never better!” She shook his arm. “Wipe that look off your face, Dave. This is a happy night!” She spied Duncan heading toward the bar. “I’ll catch you later.”
Dave watched her walk away as Jerry, Mike, Jen, and Britney headed his way.
Jerry reached him first. “What’s wrong, boo? You look like your grandma died!”
“Dave, what happened?” Mike looked back at Aurora and Duncan, who were heading back toward the dance floor.
“She said … she said her husband is dead, Mike.” He stared at his friend. “I thought she got a divorce.”
