The anticipation was driving her mad. Was Colin leaving another voicemail? Would she cry again if she listened to another one? Was Stacey finally calling to let her explain? The whole mess was over and Stacey had been right; a relationship with Colin was a delusion. Now, she had to concentrate on mending a dear friendship she dreaded to lose.
She picked up the phone and scrolled through until she found Stacey’s name. After typing her apologies once again, she hit send. Maybe one of the messages would convince her friend to call or text back. Lea fingered the fringe on the pillow. This was probably how Colin was feeling, waiting on the response that may never come.
The knock on the door was followed by Rachel walking through. “I brought the necessities,” she said, pulling her lips into a frown. She lifted three plastic grocery bags. “I’ve got ice cream, chips, frozen pizzas, and two movies. Stacey called me today.”
Instead of jumping up to help her friend carry the bags to the kitchen, she dug her ass farther into the couch cushion. “I’m not up for it. I just want to sit here and—”
Rachel set the bags on the coffee table. “Listen, Lea, you had a passionate affair with a hot guy. I told you so, by the way. Now, you’re punishing yourself for enjoying the hot sex? I assume the sex was scorching. Yeah,” she said with dreamy eyes. “I bet he could move those hips.”
Lea humphed and curled her legs up on the couch. “It’s more...it was more than that, Rachel.”
Her friend softened her smile and sat down on the couch. “I know. I could tell you two were in deep when we went to get pizza. You think Scott and I couldn’t see you guys holding hands under the table?”
Lea flinched. “You knew?”
“Yes, sweetie, anyone in the restaurant could see you two were in love.”
Just when she thought her eyes had dried up, the tears wetted her cheeks. “He’s—he’s too young and Stacey hates me. We’ve been through too much for me to betray her like this. I’m horrible.”
Rachel chuckled. “Horrible? Kidnappers, murderers, and garlic bread flavored chips are horrible. You—you’re just a woman who fell in love with a younger man.”
Lea wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Not just a younger man, my best friend’s son.”
Rachel scooted closer and Lea leaned into the hug. “Sometimes things in life seem like boulders blocking the way when they’re really stepping stones to the next great thing. For you, Colin is that next great thing.”
“But what if—”
Rachel sat back. “What if he wants to get married? What if he wants kids? Lea, you’re not seventy years old! You can still have kids and you can still get married. Sure, Colin is younger, but you’ve never been one to stay stagnant. You like to be on the go and do fun things. He’s the perfect partner for you. Can’t you be open-minded?”
Being open-minded could be a bridge she might be able to cross, but betraying her best friend was a boulder and not a damn stepping stone. “I hurt Stacey, Rachel. If I’m in Colin’s life, I’ll have to live knowing I caused a horrible distance between them.”
Rachel shook her head. “Cop out, Lea. It took both of you to make this relationship, so you’re not taking all the heat for this. Colin has taken his own hits the last couple of days, now it’s your turn.”
Lea stared at her friend. “What are you talking about?”
“Lea, when he moved out, he didn’t go back home. He’s at his partner’s house.”
“He didn’t move back home?” Lea was sure he’d have gone home to patch things up with his mom.
“No, he hasn’t spoken to his mom since she found you guys in the kitchen.” Lea felt the heat in her cheeks radiate down her neck. “I know!” Rachel teased. “Stacey told me everything. God, it sounded so hot.”
Lea threw a pillow at her. “Shut up! It was embarrassing.”
Rachel lowered her smile. “I can imagine. Listen, let’s watch a movie, eat some junk food, and forget about all this for a little while. You need a break.”
She reached out, grabbed Rachel’s hand and squeezed. “I love you. Do you know that?”
Rachel dipped her head. “Yes, I know. Now, can we forget this smooshy shit and eat some ice cream?”
Lea stood up and pulled Rachel up off the couch. “Come on, if we’re going to stuff our faces, I say let’s dig into those pizzas.”
Lea waited until Rachel left to turn the lamps off downstairs. She picked up Charlie and headed upstairs. She plopped Charlie on the bed. The dog hopped down and trotted across the hall into Colin’s room. Lea followed, stopping in the dark room, well, almost dark, the Transformers night-light glowed in the corner.