“I got it all covered.” He slipped out from under her arm andtossed her a wink. “I even have a little time left over for the ladies.”
“I don’t like that at all.” She narrowed her eyes at him as shefollowed him inside the house. Her father and Casey sat on the couch next toeach other. Sean’s iPad was propped up on the coffee table in front of them,and they both bent forward, looking at something on the screen.
“I learned it from you.”
“What?”
“You know, keeping it casual, don’t let them get attached.”Before she could light into him, he said, “Take it easy, Mama. I’m messing withyou.”
“Okay, smart-ass.” She glanced at Casey. Her attention hadn’tleft the screen in front of her, but her posture had gone more rigid.
He grinned and sat on the couch on her father’s other side.
“Sean’s showing us some pictures he took around campus,” herfather said.
Sean had carried his own SLR camera since he was ten years old.He had a good eye, and though he hadn’t been moved to make photography acareer, he still enjoyed it as a hobby. Casey encouraged him, praised his work,and engaged him in conversation about techniques. Jacqueline had always lovedthe way Casey’s face shone with pride when he brought her a new collection ofphotographs.
“Do you want to squeeze in? There’s room next to Mom.” Seanpointed to the end of the couch opposite him and shuffled over a little.
Jacqueline glanced at the space next to Casey, really no morethan half a cushion, then shook her head. She couldn’t handle being smashedagainst Casey from shoulder to knees right now. “After my drive this morning, Idon’t think I can sit anymore right now. Okay if I look at them later?”
“Sure.”
She escaped to the kitchen and grabbed a can of diet soda fromthe fridge, then leaned against the counter and listened to the murmur ofvoices from the next room. After a night of restless sleep, she’d driven hometoday with the radio turned up as loud as she could handle, changing thestation every time she heard a song that remotely made her think of Casey, theirrelationship, or their time apart.
Seeing Casey’s car in the drive had completely undone anyprogress she’d made forgetting what happened last night. She rolled the coolsoda can against her forehead.
“Hey,” Casey said from the doorway. Jacqueline raised her head,then popped the drink open, trying to look more relaxed than she felt. “Roughweek?”
“Yeah, kind of.”
“Anything I can do?” Casey moved into the room, closer to her,and she would have backed up if she weren’t already pressed against the counter.
Casey’s expression was warm and sympathetic. Her words didn’tcarry even a trace of flirtation, but every response Jacqueline came up withwas inappropriate. So she shook her head.
“Are you eating?” Casey rested her back against the counter nextto her. Jacqueline imagined she could feel the fabric of Casey’s shirt sleeveagainst hers.
“No more or less than I ever did.”
“You look thinner.”
“I’ve been exercising.” She knew her tone became more sarcasticin direct correlation to the increasing concern in Casey’s, but she couldn’thelp it.
Casey laughed.
“I’m serious. Nothing strenuous, of course. But I’ve been walkinghere in the neighborhood and around my hotels when I travel.”
“Please be careful walking around in strange cities.”
“I will. I actually enjoy it—helps clear my head. And having afew less lumps and rolls doesn’t hurt either.” Jacqueline pinched her side.
“I liked your curves,” Casey said so quietly that Jacquelinecould almost tell herself she’d misheard her.
“I should check on Dad.” She turned as she passed Casey to avoidbrushing against her.
Sean and her father still sat in front of Sean’s iPad, butinstead of the pictures, Sean was now explaining something about his currentstudies.
Casey had followed her from the kitchen, and she touched Jacqueline’slower back. “Sean’s with him. Let’s get some fresh air. You can show me yourroute.”
“Okay.” Jacqueline stepped forward, discreetly terminating thecontact between them. To Sean and her father, she said, “Hey, guys. We’ll beback in a bit.”
They both nodded, and her father waved her off with his handbefore returning his attention to Sean’s tablet.
As Jacqueline and Casey exited the front door, Jacqueline suckedin a sharp breath at the flash of familiarity. The cool spring air and scent offresh-cut grass reminded her of the day they’d first looked at their house withthe realtor. After spending their first few years together in apartments, theidea of buying a house with Casey had made her feel very grown up.
“What’s wrong?” Casey asked as she drew even with her on thesidewalk.
“Nothing.” She shook off the nostalgia that had settled aroundher like a thick cape resting on her shoulders. “The neighborhood has changed.”She grasped a safer topic. Many of the smaller homes had disappeared to make roomfor new duplexes. Though builders used touches of period architecture, the newhomes lacked the charm of the previous cottages.
“I hate those places.” Casey waved a hand toward one of the newerhouses.
“Me too.” She wanted to say she missed the old neighborhood, butshe was afraid Casey would know she meant she missed the “old them,” too. Whenshe walked these streets, she longed for the days when Casey was her bestfriend. She had to go back quite a few years, before they started arguing allthe time—when they were young and it seemed as if they existed only for eachother. Then she felt like an unrealistic fool. Of course, everyone yearned forthe simpler days of their early courtship, but that wasn’t life. Real lifetested relationships, and theirs hadn’t survived—hadn’t been strong enough.
*
By the time Casey and Jacqueline returned to Teddy’s house, he’dretired to his room for a nap. Sean had been waiting for them before he left.He threw a few things into his backpack and slung it over his shoulder.
He gave Jacqueline a hug. “I’m meeting some friends for dinnertonight. I’ll probably stay with Mom tonight since we have that weddingtomorrow.”
“Sure. Be safe.”
“Always.” He kissed Casey on the cheek on his way to the door.“See
