Part 53 (1/2)

There had to be. Naomi was actually squirming in her seat. Penny had never seen her act this way about a guy.

”Are you in love with him?” she asked, trying not to sound too incredulous.

”What? No. Of course not.” Naomi wrinkled her nose. ”It's not like that at all.”

”Then what?”

”Nothing. It's nothing.” She sighed. ”We don't even have s.e.x anymore.” She reached for her can of soda. ”We're friends, which is strange.”

Penny didn't know what to think. ”When you say you're not having s.e.x, you mean...”

Naomi shrugged. ”No s.e.x. Honestly, I can't imagine us ever doing it again. We don't...we...talk.”

”Talking is good.”

”No, it's not. This isn't natural. Friends with a man. Oh, please.”

Penny did her best to keep from smiling. ”So you're having a relations.h.i.+p. That's great.”

”No, it's odd. This is nothing romantic and yet I care about him. I don't want to care about anyone.”

”You care about me.”

Her friend smiled. ”Yes, I do, but girl love is different. Caring about a guy...”

Her voice trailed off as sadness filled her eyes. She looked at Penny. ”I might have to leave.”

Penny had a feeling she didn't just mean that evening. Panic and pain gripped her. She needed Naomi and she would miss her horribly if she went away.

”Want to tell me why?”

Her friend smiled. ”Thanks for not instantly saying I can't.”

”I want to, but I'm holding back.”

Naomi reached for another chip. ”I have family back in Ohio. Parents. A couple of brothers and sisters. A husband.” She chewed then swallowed. ”Actually, I'm not sure about the husband. He might have divorced me. I've been gone a long time.”

Penny blinked. ”I don't know what to say. You never mentioned anyone.”

”I didn't just hatch.”

Penny had always figured there had to be someone. But a whole family? A husband?

”Something happened,” Naomi continued. ”I don't want to get into it, but I did something bad and I couldn't live with myself. Or them. So I left. I just drove and I ended up here. I met you a few weeks later.”

Penny felt her heart breaking. She didn't want to lose her friend. ”If you think you have to go back, it's fine.”

Naomi scowled at her. ”You're going to be brave, aren't you? Dammit, I hate that. I don't want to leave, but I think it's time. I have to go mend some fences. I think I'm still in love with him. Talk about insane.”

Penny nodded because if she spoke, she would start to cry.