The Sidelined Wife(38)

"Do it, Sam. You'll be great."

"You don't know that."

"I do; you just need to. That's what you do every time you fire off one  of your silver-tongued posts. What did you say this morning? ‘Don't wait  to be taken out of the game. March right off the field, fire the coach,  and start making your own calls.'"

I grabbed a box of some sugar-filled cereal Cody loved while holding the  phone to my ear and trying not to grin too much. "Something like that."

I had been lamenting this morning on my blog that I hadn't taken more  control of the situation earlier because I was too afraid to admit the  truth. Deep down, I knew Neil was being unfaithful before he ever told  me. I was too afraid to believe it. But I was learning that it was  better to deal with the unpleasant truth than to live a lie. I would  have saved myself a lot of heartache in the long run had I dealt with it  up front, on my terms, not his. It would have made me the victor  instead of the victim.

"You're that woman. The only difference is, instead of a keyboard, you  have to use that beautiful mouth of yours that I wish was tangled up  with mine right now."

My blushing self was going to have to head over to the frozen food  section. I gave him a quick grin from across the way. "I would be  amenable to that."

"Don't tempt me."

I turned my cart around to walk the other way because I was just as tempted.

"That side is as tempting as the front."

Definitely in need of the frozen food aisle. I smiled into my phone.

"Are you going to do it?"

"Kiss you? Or speak at the Women's League luncheon?"

"Both."

"Yes to the kissing, but not tonight. Maybe to speaking."

"We need to start shopping in Michigan where no one knows us." I could hear his cart following behind me.

"I don't think I could justify a several-hours-long grocery trip to Cody. Saturday isn't that far away."

"Says you. By the way, what do you have planned?"

"I have two ideas in mind, depending on the weather and how much time  we'll have. I was thinking we could go apple picking or bike riding. But  I would have to get a bike this week, and I'm not sure I'll have the  time."

"Why don't we go pick apples, and afterward we can hit a bike shop- out  of town, of course. Then next weekend we'll take that bike ride. I  wouldn't mind crossing the state line with you again."

"Isn't that homecoming weekend?"

"Hell, you're right. This is the downside to clandestining."

"Is that a word?" I laughed into my phone.

"It is now. You know, you could come with me to chaperone the dance if  you were willing to date me out in the open." His tone was testing the  waters.

I paused. "We can't do that to Cody." Especially for something that more than likely wouldn't last.

"Yeah, you're right." He didn't sound convinced. "I guess we will figure out some other ways to see each other that week."

"I'd like that."

"Me too. Now meet me in the candy aisle."

"Craving something sweet?"

"I'm craving something."

"And what's that?" I knew I was rusty at this dating thing, but I was proud of the flirty comeback.

"Head to the candy aisle and you'll find out."

I went one direction and he went the other. I was the first one to  arrive, and it didn't take long to find what I was searching for. I  stood, at a loss for words, staring at where the prices were listed on  the shelves of several different types of candy. Little white notes with  red ink were placed near the prices. The first one I noticed was I  "mint" to tell you how much I like you.                       
       
           



       

Reed appeared with his cart. He was slyly looking at the chips opposite the candy.

"I like you too," I whispered in my phone.

"I had a feeling."

Next was the Milky Way candy bars. Nothing could be better than you and me under the Milky Way.

"When did you do all this?"

"I can't reveal my secrets."

I was perfectly okay with that.

My eyes fell on the Hot Tamales. Whether you believe it or not, you are  hot. I laughed and put my phone away. I wanted to enjoy this unhindered,  and for some reason my phone was a distraction.

Being with you is better than PayDay.

I can't wait until our lips are tangled up like a Twizzler.

Your kisses are sweeter than Hershey's.

I love when my Butterfingers run through your hair.

I took each card as I went, intent on keeping them, smiling and trying  not to giggle to myself. I could only imagine what I looked like to our  fellow shoppers. But I honestly didn't care what they thought. This was  one of the most thoughtful things ever done for me. I found myself  saying that each time we were together.

As indifferently as possible, I glanced his way and mouthed, "Thank you."

"My pleasure," he mouthed back. In his eyes I could see that it was.

In my heart I felt it.





Chapter Thirty-Three


"Wow, sis, you've outdone yourself with this pie." James talked with his  mouth half-full. "You need to get this recipe, honey." He held his fork  out with a nice-sized bite of pie on it for Avery. They were sharing a  piece. Weirdos were training for another marathon and watching their  empty calorie intake.

Avery took the bite and a dreamy sigh escaped her. "Oh my gosh, I might need a piece of my own."

"Are these apples from Baker's Orchard?" Ma asked. That was the orchard near the office.

"No."

Not sure why, but Ma gave me a shrewd look as if she knew how I had, or  should I say, who I had acquired the apples with. "Grocery store?"

My eyes hit my plate. "No." Why did it matter?

"Where, Samantha Marie?"

Was I in trouble? All eyes were suddenly on me. Everyone was still  sitting around the table since the Bears were playing on Monday night.  The timing was awful.

"Weatherby Orchards." I quickly shoved a bite of pie in my mouth, hoping to deter any more questions.

I swore I could feel Reed's glance from down the table. The same Reed  who helped pick the apples and kept me warm on the chilly fall day  yesterday, with hot chocolate and other means. Means I was beginning to  crave.

I felt sixteen again, wishing I was alone with him right now. I could  still feel his warm breath against my neck and the shivers it caused.  But that had nothing on the way his lips felt on mine. We spent so long  getting lost in each other at the orchard, we didn't have time to buy a  bike. I didn't regret it one bit. I would do it all over again, from  watching Reed from below on the ladder-what a sight it was-to the way he  kept pulling me behind the trees to kiss me thoroughly. We are talking  pushing me up against the trees, messing up my hair, making me think of  things I shouldn't be kind of kissing. I needed to stop thinking about  it now or I was going to have to excuse myself from the table to throw  some ice cubes down my sweater.

But all that had nothing on the easy, no-pressure conversation. He was  happy to listen to me gush about Cody and blather on about how stressed I  was about my upcoming speech at the Women's League luncheon. He didn't  even mind when I talked about how hurt and angry I was that Neil had yet  to show up to one of Cody's games. Their team was still undefeated, and  Cody threw for his first touchdown Friday night. The kid was still on  cloud nine. Reed had just listened.

And I loved listening to him talk about his students and players. I  could tell he genuinely cared for them. So much so, he went to school  every morning early to tutor those that needed extra help. There was  never a silent moment between us, except when we were speaking a  language that required no verbalization, unless you count those gasps I  couldn't help but letting out. I think Reed was now making it his  mission to make sure I did that often. I wouldn't complain about it at  all.

"Weatherby Orchards? Why so far?" Ma's suspicion brought me back to the  present. Too bad, I was enjoying reliving yesterday. Unfortunately, her  suspicious tone had the added effect of making everyone at the table,  except my son and nephews, look my way with scrutinizing gazes. Reed  joined in. He had to, or it would have looked suspect, though I swore  his lip twitched.

Thankfully, I had an excuse ready to go. This probably wasn't good. If  Cody every found out, how could I ever tell him not to sneak around? Or  worse, what if he already was and he was so good at it that he hadn't  been caught yet? Yet was the operative word. I would find out  eventually. I hoped. I was at least thankful Cody knew I had gone to  pick apples. It was hard to miss the baskets of them on our island.