Husband Stay (Husband #2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

said, “ I can ring Louella to come too, and we can
all go to the launch together.”
    “Oh.”
    That wasn’t at all
what I’d wanted.
    “ Or not. Do you
want me alone? ”
    I loved
girlfriends. They were so perceptive. “Yes I do. I’m at a bit of a crossroads.”
    “And I make
such good choices, you thought I could give sage advice.”
    We both laughed at
that. Jill’s road to happily-ever-after had been a minefield of
blow-up-in-your-face decisions. But still, she knew me, probably better than
anyone. “It’s delicate.”
    “ And I’m so
discreet. Right. This has to be about sex.”
    Okay. So sometimes
it wasn’t fabulous being read like a book. “Don’t tell the girls.”
    “ Are you
fucking someone? ”
    I clutched my
phone closer to my ear. “Is Finn listening to this?”
    “ He’s asleep
and I’m in the kitchen. I’m not completely indiscreet.”
    I chose not to
argue with that. “Thank you, and no, I’m not. This is just about...future
options.”
    “ If this is
about Doug, I’m not keen to rehash his performance.”
    Doug?
    Why would she
mention her ex-boyfriend?
    The last time I’d
seen Doug he’d been roaring drunk and jealous as hell about Finn. I’d felt
sorry for him—he’d always been so lovely to Jill while they’d been together—so
I’d tried to comfort him, but he certainly wasn’t on my radar .
    Unfortunately, before
I could say that, she went on with, “ I don’t want Finn getting jealous, and it’s
bad form to kiss and tell. Even for a blabber like me. ”
    “Good.” I was glad
she respected Doug that much. They’d been together for ten years, and he was a
very nice man. I liked him, and I knew he found me attractive—he’d said as much
when he was drunk. But, “I’m not considering Doug.” At least, not at the
moment.
    Her breath came
out on a gust. “Thank God. Because I didn’t call him Doug the Dud for
nothing. You need a hot guy. Someone who makes you howl.”
    So much for no
kiss-and-tell.
    I swallowed down
embarrassment and glanced around myself, glad to see that no one had sat in
close proximity while I hadn’t been watching. The hospital was reasonably
deserted at this hour and that suited me well. Jill got loud when she was
excited.
    I lowered my
voice, hoping she’d take the hint. “Let’s talk when I get there.”
    “ Sure. Come
anytime today. I’ll pick you up at the airport. We don’t leave for Belandera
until tomorrow afternoon.”
    “Fabulous.” Just
talking to Jill on the phone made me feel better. I wanted to be inside her feisty
hug, laughing at her outrageous sense of humor, feeling loved and accepted. Of
the four of us, she was the most likely to understand sexual confusion. It was
a good plan. “I’ll text you the details of my flight.”
    It was all
straightforward after that. I booked my flight on my phone while I waited for
my cast—which was surprisingly light once it was on. Then I headed for the desk
to sign out so I could catch a taxi home. Unfortunately, that’s where
everything came unstuck.
    “—must be a
mistake,” I said patiently. “I’ve always had the top hospital cover. My husband
pays for it out of...” I trailed off as sudden tendrils of fear snaked through
me.
    Danny was
technically still my husband until the divorce finalized, but that didn’t mean
he was obligated to cover me with his medical insurance. For all I knew, he
might have taken me off the policy as soon as I moved out. Payments had always
come out of his salary, so I never gave it a thought.
    And I should have.
    “How much is the
bill?” I asked tentatively.
    The clerk looked
down at her computer, clicked a few buttons and said, “Five thousand, four
hundred and thirty dollars.”
    All I could do was
blink, moving from cold to numb. I’d just paid the registration and insurance
on my car. I had six thousand dollars to my name. My financial settlement with
Danny wouldn’t go through until our house sold. It would be months before I