Part 66 (1/2)

”Can we talk?” I asked.

She stepped aside and gestured for me to come in.

”I just made coffee, want some?”

”Sure,” I said, sitting at the table. ”Lauren, I'm sorry,” I blurted out even though I didn't know what I was apologizing to her for.

”Me too, Ry. I just don't want you to hurt Dawson.

He is so in love with you.”

Hmm. How do I respond to that? She wasn't going to mention having lunch with him. Should I? I decided to let it slide and pretend that I didn't know.

”Why don't you and Joel come over tonight?” I asked. I didn't want her to come over with Joel. I wanted to spend the evening alone, talking to Dawson. I was just fis.h.i.+ng for information.

”Joel and I broke up almost a month ago,” she stated.

”What happened? Why didn't you tell me?” I asked, playing the concerned friend.

”I came over to talk to you last night. We didn't really talk.”

”Why did you break up?”

She shrugged her shoulders. ”I don't know. I guess I have decided lately that I wasn't getting any younger.

Joel's not really the settling down type. I want to be in love and start a family.”

”Got anyone in mind?”

She thought briefly before answering. ”No, not really.”

She wasn't going to tell me that she had lunch with Dawson, and she wasn't going to tell me who she had in mind, but I could tell there was someone, and I had a good feeling that it was Dawson.

I answered my phone when I saw that it was Dawson.

”Where are you? I brought supper.”

”How did you know that I was home?” I asked. I knew Lauren had told him. I just wanted to see what his answer was.

”ESP, baby. Get over here. I'm hungry, and I miss you.”

I smiled. He wasn't telling me either. ”I'm coming.”

I stood up and took Lauren's hand. ”Come, let's go eat.”

”No. I think I am just going to hang out here. You go ahead,” she said pulling her hand from mine.

”I thought you said you weren't mad at me.”

”I'm not. I'm just not hungry. I had a big lunch.”

”Please,” I begged.

She groaned and got up. We walked across the yard, arm in arm. I knew I was being sly, but I couldn't help it. I had to know.

Dawson was setting plates out on the table and getting spoons for the carton of mashed potatoes and corn.

I went to the kitchen and got Lauren a plate and the b.u.t.ter for the biscuits. I watched the two of them exchange a glance. It was not my imagination. I know what I saw, and I know that Lauren quickly redirected her eyes.

I placed the utensils on the table and decided to try something else. I wrapped my arms around Dawson's neck and kissed him.

”Hi,” I said as his hands moved around by ever growing body.

”Hi,” he said, and I kissed him again.

”I think I will just leave you two alone,” Lauren tried.

”No. I'm done. I promise,” I said, playing it off.

”Sit.”

We ate the chicken, and I purposely touched Dawson every chance I got, just to observe Lauren's reaction. It was obvious. She didn't want me touching him.

There was something going on. I knew it.

Lauren helped clean up the trash. I could tell that she wanted out of there. I kissed Dawson again in the kitchen, and that was it. She was gone.

”I'll see you guys later,” she stated, not looking back.

”What's her problem?” I asked Dawson.

He shrugged one shoulder. ”She's your friend,” he accused, like I should know better than him.

”Did you miss me?” I asked, moving into his arms.

I don't know what the h.e.l.l I was doing. I guess I felt a little rejected or some s.h.i.+t. I had planned on telling him that I didn't want to be with him and that I was going home to my husband. I didn't feel that way anymore. I wanted Dawson, especially after realizing that Lauren wanted him too.

”Of course I missed you,” he a.s.sured me, pulling me into his arms. ”How's your family?”

Was he now fis.h.i.+ng for information? ”Good, I'm going back down in a couple of weeks. Caroline is in a school play and I promised her I would come and watch.”

I'm pretty sure he bought it. He kissed me, parting my lips with his tongue. I kissed him back and ran my hands along his ribs and to his strong back. I wanted him. I wanted him right that second. What the h.e.l.l was wrong with me? I needed professional help or something.

Dawson tried to lift my s.h.i.+rt over my head. I stopped him. I hadn't forgotten about the nice little surprise that Drew had left for me.

”I need a shower,” I whispered to his lips.

He placed his forehead on mine and took a deep breath. ”Then you better get away from me and go,” he a.s.sured me.

I kissed him again and left him.