CHAPTER 15
Claire
Claire shook her head as she removed yet another untouched hospital food tray from Nora’s bedside table.
She didn’t understand this. Her mother, the healthy food fanatic, now survived on a diet of endless junk. Claire had begun cringing every time she passed her the bag from Five Guys or McDonald’s. The woman who’d never allowed her to eat chicken McNuggets was now devouring them by the dozen.
“Did you bring my lunch?” Nora asked expectantly.
Claire grimaced. She reached into her oversized purse for the greasy paper bag and wordlessly handed it over.
Nora took it. “Thank you. And stop it with the stink eye.”
Claire hastily looked away. Mom somehow knew she was glaring, even though her attention was on removing the fries and cheeseburger and placing them on a plate.
Mom drizzled mustard over her burger. “All my life, I ate right, and I still got cancer. Now, I’m eating what I want.”
Claire wasn’t about to argue. Though she’d prefer that her mother also eat something nutritious, any food she could get her to consume was a small victory.
Nora dipped a fry in ketchup, and Claire immediately thought of Ian.
The night at the Ritz with him had been nothing short of epic.
Between the sushi he’d prepared for her, the way he’d soothed her and talked her down from a massive freakout, and the sheer enjoyment of watching cartoons, he’d left her speechless.
But it was the way he’d let her use his beautiful body that had blown her away.
No other man she’d been with had ever let her take complete control like that.
Nora swallowed a big bite of burger. “So, do you have something to tell me?”
Claire raised her brows. “What do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean.” Nora picked up a fry. “I’ve been waiting all week for you to fess up.”
Claire felt the flush creep up her cheeks. “About what?”
“You tell me.”
Claire fixed her gaze on the oxygen flow meter on the wall. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Nora ate two fries before replying. “The Ritz-Carlton last week.”
Claire’s eyes widened. “How—” Then she remembered Life360. With that app, her mother could track her every movement. “Oh.”
She had downloaded it to Nora’s phone years ago when she had gone away to law school so Mom could see where Claire was and wouldn’t worry. Claire had forgotten it was on her phone. Apparently, now it had bitten her in the butt.
“You were there all night, Claire. And I know you weren’t with Jake because he came by to check on me early the next morning. You were still at the hotel. So, are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
How could she explain Ian and their arrangement? The truth was, she didn’t want to share this with her mother, now or ever. But her face must have betrayed her because her mom’s gaze narrowed to sharp-eyed scrutiny.
“Who is he?”
She hesitated. “Just a friend.”
“Just?” A knowing smile spread across Nora’s face. “He must be quite the friend. You’re blushing.”
Flashback to Ian, coming apart underneath her after she took his body on that long, erotic ride.
Nora’s eyes widened at whatever else Claire’s face revealed. “Wow. OK. I guess you’ll tell me in your own time then. But answer me one question, please. Does Jake know?”
Claire nodded.
“All right, then. As long as you’re honest with both of them, then I don’t see a problem.” She paused. “I’d really like to meet him when you’re ready.”
She wasn’t ready and preferred to keep Ian all to herself. Normally, she would have pointed out that she was twenty-eight years old and that her sex life was her own business, but given Mom’s situation, Claire kept silent.
A knock on the door made her shoulders sag with relief. Although it would be awkward to face Jake right then, any interruption was most welcome. Claire glanced at the window but saw no one.
A mischievous glint entered Mom’s eye. “Go see who that is.”
Claire frowned. Why the cat-ate-the-canary look? She went to open the door. Alexis, Samantha, and Kira, three of her Hogette friends, stood there, wearing leathers.
Claire’s jaw dropped. “Oh my God! What are you all doing here?”
“Thought we’d surprise you,” Samantha said, her green eyes sparkling.
A flurry of chatter and hugs followed, the girls all flocking to hug Nora too.
“How?” Claire looked from one beaming face to another.
“It’s called an airplane,” Alexis said, her brown eyes glinting with sarcasm.
“We all took a few days off,” Kira said. “The others are coming on the weekend.”
Claire’s eyes widened. “All five?”
“Yup. Hogettes, Florida edition, baby!” Kira pumped her fist in the air.
Claire shook her head. “I can’t believe you guys.” Part of her couldn’t believe her friends would drop everything and come down to Florida, but then again, she would have done the same for any of them.
“Come on. We’re stealing you and taking you to lunch.” Sam handed her a duffel bag. “Get dressed.”
“What’s this?”
“Your gear.” Sam grinned. “We rented Harleys.”
Claire turned to her mother. “Did you have anything to do with this?”
Nora’s mouth curved into a little smile. “Maybe.”
Claire shook her head.
“I couldn’t get you out of here, so I called for reinforcements. Go. Go with your friends. Spend some time in the sun. You need the vitamin D. All you do is sit in that chair all day.”
·
“To friends!”
“Friends!”
Claire clinked her glass of ginger ale and lime to those of her three friends, who had ordered margaritas.
Riding had been exhilarating and precisely what Claire needed after the incredible stress of the past few weeks. Despite her friends’ different backgrounds and upbringings, they were a tight-knit group, and she was thankful to spend time with these women she considered sisters.
“How are you holding up?” Alexis asked, her dark brown eyes assessing.
Claire tried to smile. “I’m OK, considering.”
“I am so sorry.” Sam smoothed a hand over Claire’s forearm, regarding her with sad green eyes. “I was so sure you’d be a bone marrow match.”
“Yeah. Me, too. That stinks.” Shaking her head full of chestnut curls, Kira smeared sour cream and guacamole over her tortilla, then added beef strips. “That must have been an awful shock.”
Claire thought of Ian helping her through that night, and something squeezed in her chest. He’d known exactly what to say and what to do to steer her thoughts away from the things that upset and frightened her.
“I hear you’re seeing her doctor?” Sam took a bite of taco, her green eyes questioning.
Claire frowned. Of course Mom had talked. “Not exactly.” She rolled her fajita.
Sam raised her pale brows. “What exactly does ‘not exactly’ mean?”
“It means the good doctor isn’t the only guy she’s dating.
” Alexis’s sly smile made a dimple appear on her cheek.
That dimple and angelic face had fooled many into thinking she was sweet and wholesome, but behind the delicate looks was a rapier wit, a smart mouth, and sharp eyes that missed nothing.
She also had a knack for finding out anything and everything, whether people meant to share with her or not.
Claire pinned her with a look, and Alexis shrugged. “Little birdie felt like chatting.”
Claire inwardly groaned. She’d have to talk with Mom.
Sam’s eyes widened, and her gaze swung to Claire. “Is this true?”
“It’s complicated.” Claire took a bite of fajita, then unrolled it again to add more roasted peppers.
Kira raised her margarita. “Good for you, girl!”
“Wow.” Samantha’s green eyes showed genuine surprise. “What caused this drastic change in behavior?”
Claire wiped her lips with a napkin. “Doug.”
“He called me, you know,” Alexis said.
“Are you kidding?” Claire’s eyes widened.
Alexis nodded. “Yeah, he had the audacity to rant about you blocking him. I told him that you moved on, among other things.”
“I was there.” Sam grinned. “You should have heard her. It wasn’t pretty.”
Alexis’s eyes darkened. “Can you believe he was whining about how he wants another chance and that he made the worst mistake of his life?”
Claire snorted. “Understatement.”
Kira sipped her water. “You told us he cheated but not what he actually did.”
Claire’s stomach churned with the difficulty of going back to that day.
“I came home early after dealing with a couple who were almost ready to settle the day before, but then the wife decided she had to have an ashtray they’d made in pottery class together.
I kid you not. All day, back and forth over a freaking ashtray.
After she finally got it, she told me the only reason she wanted it was to smash it in court in front of the husband!
” She pursed her lips. “Doug had promised me something special for dinner the night before. So, I called it a day three hours early and found something special, all right. You know the low counter I had installed so I could easily roll pastry for his favorite pot pie?”
Sam leaned forward. “Don’t tell me.”
“Yup. First thing I saw. His ex, naked on all fours on that countertop, and Doug behind her, getting ready to shove his—”
“I always thought Doug was a rat,” Alexis muttered.
“Oh my God!” Kira’s eyes were full of compassion. “What did you do?”
Claire focused on the cactus-shaped salt and pepper shakers. “I’m ashamed to say I froze. I thought of running, but all I did was stand there. And then, his ex started yelling at me, and Doug was groveling and insisting that it wasn’t what it looked like.”
Alexis rolled her eyes. “Not what it looked like. In your apartment. Unbelievable.”
Claire swallowed. “It messed me up. It wasn’t just about losing Doug and the relationship but also losing myself.
I had let go of my identity. Deep down, I knew he wasn’t right for me, but I chose to ignore it.
I ignored my intuition and made excuses for every warning sign.
Not only with him but also with the two guys I dated before him.
I’ve had enough of relationships. Just casual dating, for now. I need a break from all the drama.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” Kira said. “You do what you need to do for mental health.”