Resist Me(29)
“We spent some time together.”
“Ooooh,” she whispered, positioning herself next to me as she sat Indian style.
Suzy was now five months pregnant, and showing. I couldn’t imagine having a lump sticking out of the front of me. I always lay on my stomach and would be uncomfortable during the entire pregnancy. I winced thinking about childbirth and babies. I loved them, but fuck. I was nowhere near ready to become a mom.
“Don’t you have a man to sit next to?” I hinted, motioning toward Joey.
“Nah. He’s okay for now. They’re talking sports.” She rolled her eyes and put her finger in her open mouth and stuck out her tongue, making a gagging sound.
“What else is new?” I turned toward the television, hoping she’d drop the topic.
“I know there’s more to you and James than you’re saying, Izzy.” She nudged me with her side, almost knocking me over.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, shaking my head and looking into her eyes. “There’s nothing between us.”
She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. “I saw you two sneak out of the wedding reception.”
I looked at her, my mouth gaping open, shocked by her words. “You never said anything to me before.”
“I forgot with the honeymoon and then the baby.” She rubbed her belly in a circular motion as she spoke. “You mentioned his name and it all came back to me.”
“Lucky me,” I whispered, resting my head in my hands.
“Did you sleep with him?” she asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
“No. Wait. When?”
“I knew it!” she roared, breaking into a fit of laughter. “Tell me all about it.” She fluttered her eyelashes, moving closer to my face. “I won’t tell a soul.” She crossed her fingers.
“He got me out of Daytona, but no, I didn’t sleep with him this weekend.”
“Tell me you did on my wedding night. I want all the juicy details.”
“It was such a huge mistake,” I whispered.
“Why?” she asked, her eyebrows shooting up and her smile vanishing.
“I knew it the moment I woke up in his hotel room. I got my shit and got the hell out of there.”
“Oh, no. You hit it and quit it?”
“Where in the hell did you hear that phrase?” I asked as I started to laugh.
“I’ve been hanging around you for too long.” She laughed, biting her lip.
Talking to Suzy always made me feel better. I knew what I told her never made its way to Joey. He never questioned me on anything I confided in her, and I knew without a doubt he’d ask if it had. My brother couldn’t keep a secret. No one in my damn family could, except my girls.
“What are you two talking about?” Mia asked as she stretched out on the other side of me.
I was now in the middle of a Mia and Suzy sandwich, and I couldn’t be happier. These were my girls. The sisters I hadn’t had growing up, but I was thankful for them now.
“James,” Suzy blurted, drawing her lips into her mouth.
“Me likey,” Mia said, and laughed.
“How do you know him?” I asked, turning to her, confused.
“Suzy told me about him at the reception. We watched you slink out with him and not return.” She cocked her eyebrow and stared at me.
“Fuck,” I muttered. “Did anyone else see?”
Mia shook her head, pursing her lips. “I don’t think so, and if they did, no one has said anything.”
I looked toward the ceiling and sighed. “Thank Christ for small miracles.”
“Is he the one?” Mia asked, a giant smile on her face.
“What? I’ve seen him twice in my entire life. That’s quite a leap, Mia.”
“I knew about Michael after only a couple of dates.”
“When the hell are you two going to get married, then?” I asked. “If you’re so sure, why wait?”
She shrugged and picked at her nail. “I’m waiting for him to pop the question.”
“Fuck that old-school thinking. Ask him to marry you,” I insisted, shaking my head.
“No way in hell would I do that. Michael’s too old school and he’d have a coronary.”
“Have you two talked about marriage?” Suzy asked.
“Yeah. Neither of us is ready to take that plunge.”
“He’ll ask when the time is right. It took Joey’s accident before he popped the question,” Suzy said.
“I’m not worried, ladies. I love Michael and we’re in a really good place. The clinic is doing so well right now, and living together is enough for me.”
“Makes shit less complicated,” I said, cracking my knuckles.