“It’s just the neighborly thing to do,” Embry had explained in her syrupy southern accent when Sylvia had inquired as to the occasion.
“It looks delicious for the meat-eating crowd, but I’m a vegetarian. What a pity,” Sylvia had responded, assuming an appropriately disappointed expression. “But you should enjoy it with your family. I’m sure it’s Kylie’s favorite!”
Kylie was three. And really, did anyone over three enjoy tater tots? Embry was sweet but dim. Hopefully she wouldn’t get any bright ideas and show up one night with a quinoa-and-collard-greens casserole. Sylvia grimaced as she brought the jam and butter to the table.
Hugh transferred four of the biscuits to a plate, his hands tucked into large black oven mitts. “Here we are. Piping hot,” he said as he delivered the biscuits.
Sylvia plunked one onto her plate and sliced it open with a knife, quickly slathering butter across the middle so it would melt into the doughy nooks. She began to spoon thick jam on top. “What is this? It’s all coagulated.” She laughed as she poked her spoon at the glop. “It looks like cat guts.”
“Sugar-free,” he said absently. “Lil—” He stopped abruptly and forced a cough into his closed fist. “Ahem. Wrong pipe. Anyway, what I was saying is, there have been a number of articles lately about how less sugar is better.”
You almost said Lily. Sylvia stiffened but forced herself to soften her shoulders along with her expression. “Less sugar is better.” She took a bite of gooey goodness, but it might as well have been tar. Her hackles were up. This was the third time he’d mentioned his ex in a week. Lily. That meek woman who walked as though her bones were healing from fractures. They had bumped into her a few weeks ago at a coffee shop. Hugh had stood to hug Lily when she’d timidly approached their table, her overcast eyes darting to Sylvia.
“Lily! What a surprise to see you. This is Sylvia, one of my coworkers.” His tone had grown deeper, like he’d switched to his office voice. “We’re having a quick briefing before we meet with Jeff.”
Lily had perked up, though her eyes still looked like rain. “Oh, hi. Nice to meet you.” Shifting her gaze back to Hugh, she said, “I decided to run out for a coffee, since Hunter is with my mom.” She sounded apologetic, like getting coffee was a crime.
After she scurried away, Hugh tipped his head close to Sylvia’s. “Sorry for lying about the work thing,” he whispered, his stubby lashes fluttering. “She’s an ex.” He circled his finger next to his ear, indicating Lily was nuts. “If she thinks I’m dating again, she could very well do something desperate, like harm herself. Or me, for that matter. I don’t want to feel responsible for her crazy.”
“You’ve never mentioned a crazy ex-girlfriend.”
He smiled. “I’m not supposed to, right?” Leaning back, he added, “At least, that’s what I read in a magazine. It would lead you to think I have questionable judgment.”
“Interesting theory. What makes her crazy? She seemed painfully normal.”
He sat up straighter. “I’d rather not bad-mouth her. Besides, I don’t have to worry about you. You’re tough, not a fragile flower like—” He cleared his throat and sat up straighter. “Like I was saying, we should include the goal-analysis matrix in the report.”
Sylvia shifted her gaze to the left, and there stood Lily, waiting for her coffee mere feet away. Hugh was good. Keenly aware. It was odd that he’d dated a woman like Lily. She looked like a flimsy scarecrow in her sloppy leggings and a peach tunic that nearly swallowed her. So very different from Sylvia, who never would’ve worn such an atrocious ensemble, even for scrubbing the toilet.
Hugh prattled on about goals and numbers and bottom lines while she nodded, still contemplating Lily. That shade was dreadful on her.
Hugh’s expression suddenly relaxed, and his shoulders dropped. “She’s gone. Sorry about the ramblings.”
“Don’t worry. I completely ignored every word,” she said brightly. “By the way, who’s Hunter?”
“That!” He’d rolled his eyes. “A Pomeranian. We got him together, but now he’s Lily’s. She treats him like a baby.”
Hugh had scoffed about Lily a few weeks ago, but maybe he wasn’t as over her as he’d claimed. It was mind-boggling. Sylvia had so much more to offer. And she was not about to stand for being second best. Hell no. She dipped a spoon in the jam and pulled it back out. Clotted red clumps hung from it. She laid the dirty spoon on her plate and jumped to her feet. “I have to go.”
“But we just started eating.”
Drawing her lips into a tight line, she said, “Sorry. You know how I love buttermilk biscuits, but I just remembered I’m supposed to meet with Belinda and Sarah. It’s a work thing. I’ll text you later.” Her vagueness was purposeful. It was important he understood she’d lied. She checked his face for signs of frustration and smiled slightly at the way his thumb and pointer finger gripped his chin, as though he were trying to find the solution to a problem.
It’s right in front of you, babe. Stop mentioning your ex, and we can move forward.
“I hate that you have to go. Can I see you next weekend?”
She took her plate to the kitchen and stopped to kiss him full on the lips. “Call me. I really do need to run. Bye.” With a flourish, she swung her purse to her shoulder, grabbed her overnight bag, and left. She took a few steps, then stopped in the carpeted hallway of his apartment building.
Now what? Usually her Sundays were filled with Hugh. All day and into the night. But leaving had been necessary. The only option, she reassured herself as she started for the elevator. So what if she wouldn’t see him for a week? He wouldn’t see her either. It went both ways, didn’t it? He would miss her when he was off in Vegas or Phoenix or wherever his job took him. Traveling for work was something that had sounded so glamorous until she met Hugh. Now it was only a drag. But she played it off as though it didn’t bother her in the least. She was fun and carefree, after all. The opposite of Lily.
She rode the elevator to the lobby, deep in thought. As much as she wanted to believe she had the power in this relationship, a swing in balance was threatening, and it was giving her a stomachache. Strange. She was typically adept at keeping her feelings separate from her relationships. Some might claim it wasn’t healthy, but for her, it was necessary. Better to cut a man off before he could do the cutting.
That said, she wasn’t ready to sever ties with Hugh. But he needed a nudge in the right direction. If he mentioned Lily again, she would leave again. It would be like electric-shock therapy. He seemed like a fast learner. She certainly hoped he was.
CHAPTER TWO
Wednesday, March 8
Embry Taylor smoothed the paper napkin in her lap and watched her husband of four years tuck in to his plate of baby back ribs. It was the most relaxed she’d seen him in days. If only she felt that calm. What she’d learned that morning had her nerves sparking like live wires.
But she couldn’t tell him. Not tonight. It’d be best to let the news simmer for a bit.
A smudge of barbecue sauce sat like a brushstroke on Brandon’s chin, but he was enjoying his food too much to notice. His entire focus was on savoring every bite. Mindfulness in action.