One String (Lighter Ones)

Chapter 18

Marilyn

An hour and a half earlier

I text Devan, telling her I’m on my way. Ricky left for Riverbend thirty minutes earlier, after one more round of sex. The last time was in the shower. While I hadn’t expected him to join me, I didn’t exactly protest. The lack of condom usage adds a level of spontaneity that is exciting. Although it’s hard to tell by the perpetual smile on my face, I have sore muscles in places I forgot existed.

I keep telling myself not to get my hopes up. By the reflection of the smiling fool in the rearview mirror, I’m not listening to my own advice. Instead of reliving each and every moment of the last twenty-four hours, I sync my phone and turn up a new album by a popular musician, singing along at the top of my lungs about a sign on his heart being reserved for me.

Barren trees pass by the windshield of my car as I drive along highways and narrow roads, making my way out of the world I’ve chosen back into the one where I was born and raised. Nothing much has changed in Riverbend since I visited for the holidays. Driving down Main Street, I pass Quintessential Treasures, the Main Street Diner, and see the names of familiar staples. Even on a cold Saturday in January, people are walking up and down the sidewalks.

It's another ten minutes before I make my way out to Devan and Justin’s farm. The fields are plowed and frost-covered. I know from experience that winter wheat is waiting to make its sprouts visible. Turning down their lane, I pass the white barn, remembering all the fun times Devan, Jill, and I had in the dusty old structure.

As I pull up to their house, I notice Ricky’s Sonata parked by Justin’s old truck. After parking, I brace myself for a more difficult role than playing Ricky’s date last night—pretending there’s nothing between us, other than the partner dinner. Since we’d told everyone about the dinner, there is no use denying it happened.

Carrying my overnight bag, I head toward the house, taking in all the changes since Devan and Justin took ownership. The big front porch is still present with the pillars. A plume of smoke snakes through the sky from the chimney, filling the cool air with the aroma of burning wood. Instinctively, I reach for the doorknob, not bothering with knocking.

As a child, this home and Jill’s were my second and third homes. We all entered one another’s homes without knocking. Some things don’t change.

“Devan,” I call as I push the front door inward. I’m met with the warm, fire-heated air and a living room I barely recognize.

“Marilyn!” Devan screams, racing down the front staircase.

Dropping my overnight bag, I lift my arms and brace for impact. We hug as if it’s been years and not months since we saw each other.

When Devan pulls back, her smile fades. “No more lying to your best friend.” She looks even more forlorn. “Jill knew.”

It isn’t exactly an accusation, but I am done telling untruths—mostly. “He’s your brother, Dev.” I reach for her hand. “Can’t you understand how bad I felt?”

“He didn’t...take advantage…did he?”

I shake my head. “No. Nothing like that.”

She scrunches her nose. “How was last night’s dinner? I can’t believe you decided to go with him.”

Unbuttoning my coat, I feign a slight smile. “I think it went well. Ricky really knows his stuff, and I think the partners were impressed. One even asked to talk to him about a position above the one he’s interviewing for.”

“Oh, he didn’t say a word.”

I look around at the new furniture and decorations. Even some of the layout is different. “I can’t believe all the work you two have done.”

Devan spins a complete circle. “Isn’t it great?”

“It really is.”

After I drop my coat on the sofa, Devan takes my hand. “Let me show you around.”

Before moving, I ask, “Where is Ricky? I saw his car.”

“Oh, that was supposed to be a surprise.”

I lift my eyebrows.

“You’re not leaving now?” she asks.

“I’m not. But don’t try to play matchmaker.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Help with the dinner and that was it. No strings.”

Devan’s gaze sparkles. “No one is talking strings. Just think how great it would be if you and Ricky worked things out. We could be sisters.”

“If you say sister wives, I’m driving away and never coming back.”

Devan laughs. “Jill said she’ll be over after the birthday party.” She motions for me to follow her, leading me upstairs. Opening the first door on the right at the top of the stairs, she says, “This is where you’ll sleep.” She points across the hallway. “That’s our room. And Ricky is staying in this room. The last one is still my office.”

As we pass by the room Devan labeled as Ricky’s, I see his backpack on the bed. It’s the same one he had at my apartment. To avoid more conversation about Ricky, I change the subject. “I’m a little surprised there’s not a nursery.”

Devan presses her lips together. “We’re talking about kids.”

“Has no one told you that’s not how you get them?”

“We’ve both been around Jill forever. I think she started telling us the birds and bees in third grade.”

“Oh, I hope it wasn’t that young. Middle school.”

We both laugh as the slam of the back door screen rattles the house.

“Some things never change,” I say.

“We kept the door for sentimental reasons, and my mom was right, it’s more effective than a security system.”

“Devan,” Justin’s voice booms from the first floor. “We’re back.”

“We?” I ask.

“Justin and Ricky,” Devan says with a grin.

Let the pretending begin.

I follow Devan as we take the back staircase, the one that leads to the kitchen. It’s nearly impossible not to make eye contact with Ricky, especially with how sexy he looks in his faded blue jeans and green thermal, one that hugs his arms and shoulders, showing off his muscles. Instead, I focus on the kitchen itself.

“Oh my God, this kitchen is to die for.”

What had once been a large room with country cabinets and Formica countertops is now modern. The wooden cabinets have been replaced by tall white ones above the counter and bright-blue ones below. The countertops are hard surface, and beneath the upper cabinets are LED lights, glowing a faint blue onto the white subway-tile backsplash. The appliances are all new, and now there’s a large island, containing the stovetop and a breakfast bar. A glass four-season room has been added to the back of the house, expanding the room for a kitchen table.

I spin around, stopping as I look at my best friend. “This kitchen is unbelievable. Jill said you’d done a lot, but wow. This looks like it belongs in a magazine.”

Devan hugs Justin’s arm. “It seems that Justin is a great carpenter too.”

“It’s always good to have something to fall back on,” I say with a smirk.

Justin laughs. “If someone else is covering the cost, I could be talked into doing more. Right now, I’m pretty busy planning for spring.” He turns to Ricky. “That’s why Ricky is here.”

“It’s not for your carpentry skills?” I ask Ricky with all the sass I can muster.

“I can swing a hammer with the best of them,” he responds.

“That will be helpful with Parker and Stevens.”

Ricky flashes a thousand-watt grin. “My skills aren’t limited.”

“Hmm,” I say, turning to Devan. “Did you stock up on cider?”

“And cinnamon.”

My focus goes to Justin. “What are you two planning on doing while we have our girls’ night?”

Justin looks at Ricky, who lifts his eyebrows. “Guess we’re hanging out.”

“No,” Devan and I say together.

She lays her hand on Justin’s arm. “It’s hard to talk with others around.”

“Are you telling all your secrets?” Ricky asks.

“Only the most salacious,” Devan replies.

Justin taps Ricky’s shoulder. “We can go to my office and look over my plans for spring. I’d like your opinion.” He looks back at Devan. “And then we can head to Decoy Ducks. I’ll call some of the other guys. They’ll be happy to see Ricky.”

“That makes someone,” I mutter under my breath. I spot my overnight bag on the living room floor. “I’m going to take this upstairs. Then I’ll be back down.”

“It’s early for cider, but I’ll get us some lemonade,” Devan says.

I take one last look at the three of them in Devan’s kitchen before heading up the front staircase. With each step, I remind myself that Ricky walked away from me once and he could easily do it again.

There’s just that small part of me that wishes.

“Wishes are for children,” I mumble as I take the overnight bag into the bedroom Devan assigned. It was hers when she was younger, and despite the renovations, my mind is flooded with memories.

Stepping out of the room, I turn toward the kitchen staircase and run into a brick wall. Literally, run into… Ricky reaches out and grasps my arm, stopping me from falling on my ass. The vise grip of his hold reminds me how tight he held to my hips. Biting my lower lip, I look up, meeting his gaze.