Page 118 of Red King
“I know.”
Itwasjust a fling. Idoneed to get over it. I just wish I didn’t feel so alone…so empty. I need to get on with my life. I need a plan and then I need to action it.
33
Paisley
“I can’t believe it’s already been two weeks since you left,” Mags says; her smiling face takes up the whole screen of my phone, which I’m holding leaned up against my legs.
“Me neither. So far, I’ve accomplished nothing at all. Zip. Zero. Nada.”
“You’re allowed to take a break.”
I’m lying on my bed in Rebecca and Dave’s guest room. It’s the room they are going to convert into the nursery. For now, it’s mine. I’m propped up on pillows.
“Okay, that isn’t completely true,” I say. “I helped my friend Becs find a new wedding dress.”
“What’s wrong with the old one? The one she had, I mean.”
“She’s pregnant and needed something that would accommodate the bump.”
“Oh…I see. That’s…um…yeah… How do you feel about it?”
“It’s fine. I think it’s great. I wish people wouldn’t treat me with kid gloves. I can’t have kids, but I’m okay with it. It’s something I’ve started to come to terms with. I’m happy for Rebecca and her soon-to-be hubby.”
“Okay, babe. I’m glad to hear it. It’s just that it’s such a tough one.”
“It is, but I can do one of two things: I can wallow in self-pity and hate babies and young families, or I can come to terms with it and embrace being a godmother to their child when he or she is born.” I grin, feeling excited at the prospect. “I can choose to be happy for others, and that’s what I choose. I think I did do some healing on Mistveil Island.”
“That’s great. With all the shit between my ex and me, it never crossed my mind to start a family, but I’ve been thinking about it lately. I might not be able to have them, either…kids, that is. I’m a year older than you.”
“That makes you ancient.” I laugh. “You’ve been thinking about kids, huh?” I giggle. “I think you might have done some healing, too, since being on the island. How are things with Hazard?”
“They’re going great.” She smiles, and it’s really goofy. “We’re going steady.”
I choke out a laugh. “Oh, really now? I thought that was an outdated, terrible term.”
“It is; that’s why I love it. It works for Hazard and me…at least for now. He’s not allowed to call me his girlfriend yet, but maybe one of these days. That’s enough about me; more about you, please.”
I stick out my tongue. “Like I said, there isn’t much to tell. I’ve been pottering around the house, keeping it clean, and cooking the suppers. Trying to make myself useful. Otherwise, I’ve been bingeing Netflix and hanging out with their beagles: Fortune and Cookie.”
It’s almost time for their walk, so when the dogs hear their names, they jump up on the bed and attack me with their tongues.
I shriek and pull myself into a ball, then yell for them to get off, which they finally do.
“Sorry about that,” I tell Maggie, picking up my phone.
She’s laughing her head off.
“I might need to take a shower after that.” I join her and laugh. “Anyway, there isn’t too much news from my side. I really need to start applying for a new job. It could take a while before I find my next gig. Then, I’ll have something of interest to report. What else is new on the island?”
“Oh, you know, same ol’ same ol’. There is one bit of goss’.” She lifts her brows. Her eyes are twinkling.
“And what would that be?”
Maggie gets this downright evil look.
“Tell me.” My heart is beating a little because it might have to do with Arctic. I’m secretly hoping she tells me about him. There’s another part of me that doesn’t want to know anything. The two sides are at war right now.
