Forgotten Honeymoon Read Online Free PDF Page B

out of her reach. “I’m fine.”
    “Suit yourself,” she said, and rose to her
feet. “I’m going to get out of this dress and change into something
more comfortable.”
    He had a sudden mental image of her wearing
nothing but his dress shirt, kneeling on the hotel bed. He wasn’t
sure how comfortable he’d be if she became more comfortable.
    He stood up and walked to the large window of
what used to be the living room to stare outside at the street. Cool it , he told himself. Remember she thinks of you as a
friend, not a lover.
    But can’t I be both? a voice in his
head asked.
    No , the calm side of him countered. Don’t be selfish. You know what will happen if you expect more
than she can give. She loves Nigel, not you.
    When Kelly came back, she was wearing a baggy
gray t-shirt with the word KPots across her chest and black knit
yoga pants that hugged her thighs and bared her ankles. She’d
pulled her hair back into a ponytail and washed her face free of
make-up. This is how he liked her best, he realized: completely
relaxed, natural. There was no pretense about Kelly, no games.
That’s why he loved her.
    And why he knew she didn’t love him.
    Now would be a good time to talk. “Kelly,” he
began in a serious tone, but she held up her hand.
    “Not yet. I can tell you want to talk about
something dreadful. You’re using your CEO voice. Can’t it wait
until after we’ve eaten?”
    He smiled. “Yes, of course.” He was
postponing the inevitable, but why not? This way, he could enjoy
the meal and her friendship before everything changed.
    “Good, because I’m starving.”
    She opened a box of Butter Chicken and
scooped it out onto a plate. On top of this she poured black
lentils and followed it with chickpea curry. She brought a dripping
bite to her mouth. “Wow, this is the best thing I’ve eaten in
days.”
    He smiled. She dived into life as she dived
into her food. No holding back. He often wished he could be as
spontaneous and free as she.
    She pointed to his plate with its neatly
separated foods. “You know it tastes better if you mix it all
up.”
    “Food as collage?”
    She laughed and for a few minutes they ate in
companionable silence. Then she reached across him to get another
piece of leavened flatbread. For an instant her arm brushed his
chest, and he fought the urge to grab and kiss her.
    “Excuse me,” she said, and smiled, sitting
back on her heels. “I’m so glad you came with me tonight. I was
feeling low, and whenever you’re around, I feel better. Stronger.”
She chewed a bite of her Naan and swallowed, eying him
thoughtfully. “It must be your take-charge attitude. Somehow I know
that you’ll always be there for me.”
    Except when he hurt her. “Kelly, I --”
    She didn’t let him finish. “Today I was
thinking about the time you talked Dad into letting me drop out of
college. He was scared I’d end up working in a fast food place, but
you convinced him I was ready to open my own studio and sell my
pottery.” She waved her arm to showcase the large room filled with
her supplies. “You helped me do all this, and I’ve never thanked
you, so I’m doing it now.”
    Knowing what he knew, it killed him to hear
her gratitude.
    She said, “You and Brenda are my best
friends.”
    Every word was like a slap in his face.
“Kelly, we need to talk.”
    She nodded. “I know, but me first, okay?”
    He sighed. What difference would a few more
minutes make? “Whatever you want, Kelly.”
    She reached for his hand and squeezed it
gently. “Thanks. I need to spill it all out before I lose my
courage.”
    Courage? Had she remembered
something?
    “First I need to tell you about a car
accident I had two months ago.”
    “Frank told me.”
    “Good, so you know that it wasn’t serious,
but I lost a few weeks’ memory.”
    “Yes.”
    She seemed relieved not to have to give him
all the details. She clutched her hands together in her lap. “The
next thing I have to tell you is