Page 26 of The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth

Two hours later, being of slightly less sound mind but only two pints in, she took him back to the hotel. Rain had started up again, but she couldn’t run, could she, and he was sweet about it, holding a giant black umbrella over her head. In the elevator, he kissed her, and he knew what he was doing. She remembered all kinds of sensations that had been buried for eighteen months. She ran her hands up his strong back and opened her mouth, and they kissed until the elevator door opened, which took longer than she would have expected.

At the room, she shushed him. “I have a friend traveling with me.”

He touched his finger to his lips and followed her in, through the little sitting room and into her room, where she closed the door and shed her sweater all in one gesture. He came forward and ran his hands over her bare skin, and she practically came right there, just from being in contact with other skin. There was one bad moment when she had to have help getting her jeans off and then one more when she had to stop and let a cramp in her calf pass, but he just kissed her through it, and it was good. Good enough that when she reached for him a second time a little while later, he was quite willing to engage again.

“Do you want me to go?” he asked, afterward.

She purred a little, feeling at ease in the way only sex could deliver. It was cold and wet outside, the bed warm. “You can stay, as long as you know this is it.”

He grinned. “Understood.”

They slept.

Chapter Fourteen

The rooms were quiet when Veronica got up. It was still dark outside, but her phone told her it was seven a.m. She made some oatmeal out of the packets she’d picked up, and some instant coffee and settled in to read her texts and emails.

Such as they were. Jenna had texted a handful of ordinary things, about her exam and a new shirt she bought, and a wish for a good time. Her friend Amber had sent a flurry, too, which was unusual.

hope ur having a good time, so jealous

court today

bad news

assfuck judge threw the book at me

full damages

have no idea what Ima do

know ur prolly asleep. sorry. hope u dont have notifications on (better not, u idiot). really thought I might get some kind of leniency given the extenuating circumstances, and family court is usually pretty good to moms, but the bitch thinks I’m a lowlife and I knew that but still

glad one of us caught a break.

Do Not Call Me

just wanted to vent xoxoxoxoxo

eat a scone for me

Sipping coffee in the dark coziness of the sitting room in a ritzy hotel in London, Veronica felt a wash of guilt. She’d met Amber at a court-ordered support group. Every single step of the way, Veronica had always had a better result than Amber. She landed substantial alimony while Amber struggled to even get child support from her deadbeat ex. Veronica only had to attend three months of support group, while Amber wore an ankle bracelet. Veronica found an apartment in a nice building for a ridiculous amount of rent, and Amber had finally qualified for a rent-assisted apartment, but because of the bracelet, Amber couldn’t leave Boulder. That made finding a job and a place to live doubly difficult.

Taking a breath, Veronica typed,Oh,I Hate This For You! To hell with that judge and loser ex and the whole stupid system—I wish I was there so you could cry on my shoulder

She smiled and continued typing.No, that’s a lie and you know it. I’m glad I’m here. I have 1000 texts from Spence, but I decided I’m not going to read them today.

I will you call you when the times match, you idiot.

She shut the phone down. Ate her oatmeal and finished her coffee. Only then did she look at Spence’s texts. There were seven. They all said the same thing:I can’t pay this much alimony. I’m drowning.

Seven times in a row.

Sorry,she texted.The court decided, not me.

He did not reply, because it was the middle of the night in Colorado. What a relief! She headed for the shower, feeling bold and smart. And then feeling like hell because Amber’s situation was so different. She’d paid so much more than Veronica had.

It wasn’t fair.