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“Killion likes me and finds me convenient.”
“What does that mean?”
“What it sounds like. He enjoys my company and my lack of expectations.” She smiled. “We’re each other’s plus-one. Monogamous, but without expectations. The relationship isn’t going anywhere.”
“You’re not in love? You don’t want to get married?”
Erica laughed. “You’re such a dreamer. No, I don’t want to marry him or anyone and I’m not in love with him.”
“But you sleep with him.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Without love.”
“Apparently.”
Allison frowned. “I could never do that.”
“I know and that’s fine. We’re all different. All my life men have judged me for being too ambitious, too successful. They’ve been more afraid of me than attracted to me and some who have wanted me have done so for the wrong reasons. Killion gets me and I get him. We’re both busy and driven, which makes being together easy. But neither of us expects happily-ever-after.”
“I don’t know.” Allison looked at her. “I’m pretty sure he’s in love with you.”
“What?” Erica sat up straight. “Why would you say that? He’s not.”
“He acts like he is, the way he takes care of you. Plus you haven’t seen how he looks at you.”
“What do you mean how he looks at me? What a ridiculous thing to say.”
She could feel herself getting annoyed, which made no sense. They were just having a conversation and Allison was wrong. Killion was like her—he enjoyed what they had and would never want more.
Allison surprised her by smiling. “You’re right. Don’t listen to me. I barely know the man. I don’t think I could handle your relationship, but I respect it. Besides, it’s working and that’s the whole point.”
Which all sounded right but left Erica feeling oddly unsettled. A sensation she didn’t like at all.
Summer walked into Erica’s home office, her tablet in her hand and a determined expression on her face. Erica braced herself for conflict.
“I’m almost afraid to ask what you’re thinking,” she said, her voice teasing, hoping to avoid whatever fight they were about to have.
“I have a list,” her daughter admitted, flopping down on the sofa. “For summer and other stuff.”
“Ah, the summer-activity dance.” Erica typed on her laptop and pulled up her daughter’s calendar. “You’re scheduled for softball camp, as per usual. Last we talked, you weren’t sure if you want to spend the rest of your time volunteering or getting a job. It’s kind of late to get a volunteering gig. Won’t most of them be taken?”
“I’ve decided to work,” her daughter said, studying her tablet. “Not just for the money, but to learn some skills. I’ve applied a couple of places.”
Erica waited, but Summer didn’t offer any specifics.
“All right,” she said slowly. “Softball camp is in the morning and—”
“I don’t want to go to camp.” Summer sat up and set the tablet on the coffee table. “I’m done with softball.”
Erica stared at her. Sure, she’d mentioned she didn’t want to play in college and was thinking about letting the sport go, but this seemed sudden.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.” Summer smiled. “I’m serious, Mom. Nothing big. No revelation. I’ve been playing for a long time. I’m good but not great. I don’t want to play in college. It’s a lot of work and the schedule ties me down. I want to be free to explore other things. Avery isn’t going to play, either, so it’s not like all my friends will be doing it.”
She sighed. “I told you about the younger players. They’re really good. Competitive good. They’ll probably get college scholarships. So let them have my spot.”
