Page 34 of Present Tense

“Which answer do you want first?” A calm washes over me when I remember I’m an adult with a career, a house, and a child. I’ve had enough of being talked down to by parents today. We’re fucking. I can tell her that. I can easily tell her we are temporarily fucking.

I cross my arms and mirror her expression. “Are you seducing him? For someone who has carried a torch for you for that long, and is only a couple of years out of a marriage, you cannot toy with him. You cannot do this and not mean it.” She knew he had a crush on me.

“Seduction has been taken care of—last night. And it wasn’t me who did the seducing, but I was a willing participant. And we know exactly what we’re doing.” I suck in a bunch of air and hold it for a second until she answers me.

“Tsk. I should have seen it. The two of you flirting and revolving around each other all evening.”

“We were obvious?”

“Blatant. But I thought nothing of it since you told me you were flying home early this morning. It all seemed innocent. Why are you still here?”

“He asked me to stay until the twenty-sixth.”

Her face breaks into an insanely broad smile. “That’s unlike him. He usually doesn’t ask for what he wants. I’m proud of him.”

“You’re proud he got laid?” It slipped out. I grimace and shut my eyes tightly.

“To be crass about it, my dear, yes.” I peek and she’s still glaring at my bra. “Perhaps you have a shawl to cover yourself up while we talk.” I throw my pashmina over me. “Thank you. I don’t need to be seduced.”

“Don’t you?” I realize she’s grilling me, but I can examine her back.

She says, “Explain yourself, lamb.”

“To the slaughter?”

“No, not at all. You know I adore you.”

“As Lisa’s friend. I’m not sure about this capacity.”

She sips her wine and continues to stroke that traitor, Other Cat. “Dear, he’s probably lost in the lifetime of you. But I’m interested in you telling me what you think you’re doing.”

Just leap. “I have no answers other than we’re both acting on what we feel. There’s an end date to it and we’re both handling that well.” My voice goes up at the end of my sentence as my heart seizes at the idea of being without him. What the hell is wrong with me?

She laughs. “No you’re not. You’re flushed and rushed in a wave of infatuation. Neither of you has a handle on it.”

“We do. This is short-term examination of a lifetime of curiosity.”

“Fancy words. Let’s cut to it. Do you think you could love my son?”

The word rushes out of my mouth without thought. “Yes.” Lock me up. Jesus. One fucking day and that word feels too right. Infatuation got me cray. And I never could lie to Bev.

I’m drowning in sexy thoughts and constant tingles. Fuck. I don’t even know if he wants to date me or even talk to me past January third. But here I am making up stories as if they could be true. It’s not like he’s thought that word.

“Then that’s your answer. I won’t speculate, but I believe he would be worse for the wear if he lets you slip back into history. Despite all the reports from my daughter. Never mind that now.” Bev lifts an eyebrow and stands. “But now I understand why he’s ditching us for Christmas.”

I nod as she crosses to me. I stand, so I have equal footing with her. “I have a better plan. Lisa would love to see you. There’s plenty of room. We can come back late Christmas night. The cats can take care of themselves for two days. They will have a field day with all your decor. Go and pack. We’ll leave first thing in the morning.”

Lisa and I in the same room is not a good idea. Our falling out is a closed door. Like cemented over door. It’s the reason I didn’t go to Reid’s funeral. I reached out to Bev and Liam but didn’t say a word to Lisa.

“Lisa won’t want to see me.” Lisa worked hard to mess with me. No one understood the gaslighting and taunting because she always hid it so well. I was older when I figured it out. It’s not like we’re going to pick right up and start braiding each other’s hair.

“Nonsense. We’ll leave at eight.”

Bev’s so strong. I muster all of my gumption to stand up to her. “Given our limited time together, we’re staying here for Christmas.” And I have to make sure you don’t tell your son that I said I could love him after one day, like a stalker lunatic.

“You seem confident, but I’d like all of my family together. Lisa would agree with me.”

“Seems we’re at an impasse.” But now I’m annoyed. I want just Fletch and I for the holidays, especially since I only have him for moments. I want to be selfish with all of them.