6. Amy
6
AMY
I close the bedroom door quietly and tiptoe back to the living room. “She’s asleep.”
A brightly colored stack of plastic rings topples over, and Hugo lets out a squeal of delight. His giggle is infectious, and I laugh along with him.
Chloe sits next to him on the floor while Izzie sets the plates at the dining table.
“Thanks for coming around. I don’t like leaving her on the dialysis days.”
“No problem,” says Izzie, taking the cling wrap off a bowl of chicken salad. “It’s more relaxed here than a cafe.”
The girls wanted to meet for lunch, and I suggested they come here so I could keep an eye on Mom. Izzie bought a salad and Chloe made cupcakes. All I’ve got is some baloney and bread. But the food isn’t the point. Seeing the girls is.
“Do you miss France?” I ask Chloe.
I’ve only met Chloe since I’ve been back. She spent time in France too, and it’s nice to talk to someone about the place.
“I barely think about it.” She bounces Hugo on her knee, and he giggles at her. “I’m happy here with David. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
She says it simply, and she and Izzie share a knowing look. Two married women who seem happy. I only hope it stays that way for them.
“Did you meet your husband in France?”
Chloe shakes her head, and her features soften. “No. I met him here.”
Izzie giggles, and they share a look.
“It was quite the scandal.” Izzie comes to join us on the floor. “Chloe hooked up with her best friend’s dad.”
The words send a shock to my stomach. I glance quickly at Izzie, but she’s looking at Hugo, offering him a rice cracker.
She doesn’t know.
“Oh,” I say trying to keep my voice even. “How did your friend take it?”
“Allie was furious.” A shadow passes across her face. “She’s slowly coming around to the idea. But we’re not close like we used to be.” She sighs. “Hopefully we will be again one day.”
I stand up from the floor and head to the kitchen, not wanting the girls to see the turmoil inside me.
After what happened last night, I can no longer deny the connection between me and Landon. But I don’t want to lose a friend because of a man.
I was all set to tell Izzie today, but now I can’t. She’s still happy and loved up from her honeymoon. I don’t want to ruin her good mood.
It was one time with Landon. And we didn’t sleep together. My cheeks inflame thinking of what we did do. I close my eyes and feel the imprint of his hand on me. My body flushes, and heat pools between my legs.
The doorbell rings snapping me out of my reverie.
Thankful for the distraction, I pull the door open. A delivery man holds up a dozen red roses. “For Amy Moray.”
I gape at him as the scent of roses overwhelms me. “For me?”
My heart races. Landon sent me flowers.
“Ooh roses! How lovely!”
Izzie comes up behind me, and I snatch the roses out of the man’s hands. “They’re for Mom.”
I turn and head into the kitchen so she doesn’t see the lie in my eyes.
“Red roses for your mom. Someone’s got a crush!”
Chloe joins us in the kitchen, bouncing Hugo on her hip. Her eyes widen when she sees the flowers. “Someone’s got an admirer.”
I lay the roses on the counter, and I root around in the cupboard for a vase. Before I can stop her, Chloe reaches for the tag that’s tied around the bouquet.
“Dear Amy…”
I stand up so quick I bang my head on the countertop. Not stopping for the pain, I snatch the card from the bouquet before Chloe can read it.
“They’re for you!” squeals Izzie. “Who are they from?”
Both girls are looking at me with wide expectant grins, and I back up against the kitchen counter, feeling trapped. There’s only one man those flowers could be from, and I’m not going to tell Izzie her dad is sending me red roses.
“I-I don’t know.”
Izzie raises her eyebrows at me. “Read the damn card!”
I stuff the card in my pocket safely away from her. Even if he didn’t sign it, she’ll recognize his handwriting if she sees it.
But if I don’t read it, she’ll harass me until I tell her. I take the card out of my pocket and pretend to read.
“Dear Amy, Enjoy the roses.”
I stuff it back in my pocket, but both girls are looking at me expectantly.
“Well, who’s it from?” asks Izzie.
“It doesn’t say.”
“Let me see.”
I shake my head. “It doesn’t say who it’s from.”
They don’t believe me, and I hate lying to my friends. I’m going to kill Landon when I see him next.
“You’ve got a secret admirer.” Chloe claps her hands together, and Hugo gets caught up in the excitement and start clapping and laughing. “Any ideas who it could be? Someone from the fire station? Or no, someone from search and rescue. You surround yourself with big heroic men, Amy, it’s bound to be one of them.”
While she prattles on, Izzie’s looking at me thoughtfully. She knows I’m not telling her the full truth, and I hate that.
Finally she nods. “Whoever he is, Amy, he’d better treat you well. It takes more than a bunch of roses to be a good man. Don’t let him win you over with gifts. It’s what he does day to day that counts.”
She knows I’m keeping something from her. But she’s letting me off the hook. If she knew it was her dad sending me flowers, would she give such sage advice?
I’m the shittiest friend in the world.