She spins to the refrigerator and pulls out a container.
I pour the cream into a bowl, add icing sugar, and turn the hand mixer on.
Moments later, we lick soft peaks from our fingers.
“I know,” I say.
Her eyes move to me, her eyebrows tilting into a questioning look.
“I know he’ll treat me nicely. That’s not the problem,” I go on.
Well, it’s kind of a problem, but I can’t admit it without looking like a lunatic.
“Then what is it?”
“I’m not the woman that he needs.”
I scoop out dollops of soft, glistening whipped cream, let them slide off the spoon, and watch them plop onto the ice cream before grating a square of dark chocolate, brown curls landing on the luscious cream.
“Mmm... That looks delicious,” she murmurs, her eyes gleaming with a smile.
She wipes the counter clean while I fish Maraschino cherries from a jar and drop one in each cup.
“Anyway, you know better, but men like Nick are hard to find. He could be your plus one at Isabel’s engagement party,” she says.
“Yeah, he could, but I’m not sure I want to go there anyway.”
She looks baffled.
“It’s Isabel, for God’s Sake. She’s been bugging me since they set a date for the party. She wants you there. Admittedly, more than anyone else, but you can’t let her down. She’s the only family member who doesn't hold a grudge against you.”
“That’s because she was too young. Anyway... It’s not so much about her as it is about them.”
“It’s been five years. People forget. It can’t be that bad after all this time.”
“Yes, it can.”
I smile bitterly as I slip into a pensive mood. Memories from a distant past come rushing to me. We used to do so many things together. Adele Martin and us, the three Lloyd sisters.
“I’ll think about it, but I’m not going to involve Nick.”
“He’s probably going to get an invitation anyway, so you might as well snatch him before someone else does. It will be easier to face your family. Trust me.”
3
SENNA
I suggested dimming the lights,hoping it would kill his jitters. While tasting ice cream, he’s made his proposal.
Fucking without having any expectations, like a trial test of sorts.
He’s used different words. No strings attached. A one-night stand. Okay. Whatever.
I spelled out my conditions. He knew I couldn’t give him what he wanted, but he said yes. Yes to everything.
I hope he doesn’t change his mind. Because I won’t.
I can’t do relationships.