Chapter Thirty-Two
Carina
“These cravings are driving me crazy. One minute I am NEEDING a plate of spaghetti drowning in marinara, and the next I’m ripping the pantry apart looking for something crunchy to eat,” Erin said.
A young man looking barely out of his teens walked up to their table holding a pie. “Did this table order an entire coconut cream pie?” he asked.
“Um…yeah. Is that a problem?” she asked.
The man cleared his throat and set the pie on the table. “No…I mean. I was just checking. You know, because we usually sell pie by the slice.” His eyes drifted to Erin’s belly. His cheeks flashed red and he laid the pie cutter, plates, and forks down in front of Erin. “But it’s okay if you want an entire pie, not that I’m saying you look like you could eat an entire pie…”
Erin put him out of his misery with a giggle and a pat to his hand. “Thank you. And for the record, I could eat that entire pie right now. But I think I’ll share it with my friends.”
His blush deepened. “Okay, well, I’ll just leave the can of whipped cream with you, then.” He fished the can out of the pocket of his apron and set it on the table before rushing off.
Carina, Mia and Erin erupted into a fit of laughter that lasted for a full minute. Erin was the first to come to but she was still blinking back the tears while she cut the pie and set a slice in front of each of them. “All I want to do is devour everything in sight!” Erin said.
Erin might be putting away the calories like a champ, but you couldn’t tell. She was sporting the cutest baby bump and carrying beautifully. “You and Mia are going to be two hot mamas,” Carina said, lifting her mocha latte to her lips.
“Well, I wasn’t feeling so hot this morning. Paul spent an hour holding back my hair while I dry heaved over the toilet,” Mia said as she caressed her belly. “But it could be worse. Some women have morning, noon and night sickness. Like clockwork mine tends to leave by midmorning.”
“Yeah, I’m glad those early weeks of pregnancy are behind me. I don’t want to know how many times Chase witnessed me bolting to the bathroom. Most of the time, I made it to the toilet. But there were occasions when I didn’t and Chase had the pleasure of cleaning up his wife-to-be’s puke.” Erin winced and then shook her head, as if trying to dispel the embarrassing memories. “All right. Enough with the pregnancy talk. Let’s talk weddings.”
“Agreed.” Mia sipped her decaf frap. “When is your next fitting, Erin?”
Erin looked over at Carina and they both smiled. Mia had no clue, which made Carina giddy with excitement. Carina was grateful that Erin had called her on her lunch break and put an end to her emotional morning. Although Erin’s own wedding was just weeks away, she wanted Mia’s engagement to her brother to be special.
“Oh. I must have failed to mention why we’re really here.” Erin gave Carina a wink. “We are talking about a wedding. Yours, sweetie.”
Mia looked over at Carina and then back at her future sister-in-law. With her brow raised, Mia said, “You two are trouble.”
Although Carina and Erin had only met weeks ago, Carina felt like they had always been close friends. Carina was grateful to have Morgan, Mia and now Erin in her life. Her mother had always told her that if you find one true girlfriend in your lifetime, you should consider yourself lucky. Now she had three caring women to call her friends. She wasn’t just lucky. She was blessed.
“Quite possibly,” Carina said, chuckling. “So, which would you prefer? A Christmas wedding? Or maybe you want to celebrate the New Year while exchanging your vows? Or you could wed on Valentine’s Day!” Carina watched Mia’s eyes grow wide as she digested what she had said.
“Are you telling me…that Luke…” Mia’s eyes were already brimming with tears.
Carina nodded and clapped her hands. “My brother would be honored to host your wedding. He set aside three dates. All you have to do is choose.”
Mia tore out of her seat and hugged Carina and Erin. “You two…I just love you both!”
Carina and Erin were already crying and sharing in Mia’s excitement. “Now sit your little tush down and let’s talk dates, flowers, cake, the whole shebang,” Erin said.
Mia wiped her eyes with a napkin and took a seat. “I can’t believe Luke is able to fit my wedding in. His winery must be booked one year in advance.”
“Two, actually.” Carina also dabbed the corners of her eyes and smiled. “But he said you’re worth the trouble, a fact that Erin and I agree with.” Mia’s own smile grew as she looked past Carina, towards the entrance of the coffee house.
“Look what the cat dragged in! Did you guys invite him?”
Erin followed Mia’s gaze and she too smiled. “No, but let’s call him over.” Carina turned to see who the newcomer was that Erin was now flagging down.
She knew she would see him again. But she wasn’t prepared for this. Her racing heart wasn’t strong enough for this. She told herself to get a grip. Willed her cheeks not to pinken and her hands not to shake. Because if she didn’t get it together, then her friends would know something was up. And Josh…he would know why she was falling apart.
“Josh, come sit with us,” Erin said as he grew closer.
Josh smiled as he walked over. Carina looked away. “What are you three beautiful ladies up to today?” Though there was an empty seat next to Carina, he remained standing.
“We’re discussing Mia’s wedding and just about to talk dates. Take a load off, handsome,” Erin said, gesturing to the vacant seat.
Carina heard Josh clear his throat. “I…um, can’t, sweetheart. I’m meeting someone here.” Carina couldn’t resist any longer and peered up at him. He was staring at her, his eyes boring straight through her.
“Oh, who? Maybe he or she can join us?” Erin asked, looking around the coffee shop.
He raked his fingers through his hair, which only reminded Carina of how she had gripped him by his locks as he tasted her.
“Not this time, honey. But I’ll see you Friday, right?” Josh asked.
“Okay, you’re off the hook…for now,” Erin said, her tone playful. Mia stood and gave Josh a hug. He returned the embrace and kissed her on the cheek.
“It was nice to see you again, Carina,” he said, his face appearing flushed.
She was searching for a response, something, anything, but the words wouldn’t come. As she remained in a silent stupor, Carina heard Josh’s name being called from somewhere within the coffee house. Seconds later, a gorgeous blonde wearing a suit that had to have cost a small fortune and flashing manicured fingernails walked right up to their table and linked arms with Josh. Carina wanted to kill her on the spot.
“Sorry, I’m late. Class ran long.” The blonde tightened her grip. “Oh, it’s nice to see you again, Erin, and you too, Maya.”
“It’s Mia,” Mia said, taking joy in correcting the obnoxious woman.
The blonde giggled. “So sorry. I’m terrible with names. Josh could attest to that. How long did it take me to learn the names of all the students the semester I had you in my class?”
He was her fucking student? Carina felt like she was going to be sick.
Josh’s body stiffened beneath her grasp, but he didn’t shake her loose. “I’m not sure. Most of the semester, I imagine.”
Despite his clipped tone, the blonde continued to smile and then her gaze fell on Carina. “I don’t believe we’ve met, though. I may be lousy with names, but I never forget a face.”
“Amanda, this is Carina, Mia’s old roommate from college.”
He may as well have reached into her chest, torn her heart out and stomped on it. This was how he was introducing her to this woman? He sure hadn’t wasted any time. It had only been two days since she had seen him, since he’d pinned her against her front door and kissed her, and he had already moved on to someone else.
“Oh, how sweet. It’s nice to see college roommates remain friends after they enter the real world,” Amanda said.
Sweet.
Josh didn’t want her because she was sweet. Carina wanted to leap across the table and strangle the wench with the silk scarf that was tied around her neck. How sweet is that, Josh? But she somehow reeled herself back in and forced a smile.
Amanda looked at Josh. “Want to grab a table?” she asked, no longer interested in pretending to be cordial.
Carina grabbed her mug and downed the rest of her now lukewarm coffee. She fought like hell not to flash him the look of death. She didn’t want him to know how furious, how hurt she was.
She was staring at the bottom of her mug when she heard Josh say, “I’ll see you on Friday.”
“See you then,” Erin said.
Frightened to peel her eyes away from her mug and catch a glimpse of Amanda manhandling Josh and him letting her do it, Carina waited over a minute before focusing her attention on the two women at her table.
“I thought he broke up with her over the summer,” Mia said, barely over a whisper.
Erin scanned the coffee house. “He did. Which is why I’m confused. He never goes back to a woman he has broken up with. He just…moves on.” Erin set her coffee mug down on the table. Her lips parted and then they sealed until they formed a tight line.
“What is it, Erin?” Mia asked. “What’s wrong?”
Erin drummed her nails on the table and said, “Something is going on with Josh. Ever since my engagement party, he seems…off. Not his normal smartass self.”
“What do you think it could be?” Mia asked.
Erin looked over at Carina, which triggered Carina’s heart to quicken. She couldn’t know. Josh told Carina that he would keep what had happened between them private, that it was nobody’s business except theirs. He wouldn’t out them to their friends. But why did Erin suddenly look suspicious?
“Not sure. Not yet, anyway.” Erin picked up her mug and took a sip.
It was getting unbearably hot in that quaint little coffee house.
“Time will tell, I guess,” Mia said. She looked over Erin’s shoulder. Carina didn’t follow her gaze because she knew where it would land. On Josh and the woman he would probably be fucking tonight. “Is he bringing Amanda to your wedding as his date?”
“No way. Lady Jane is his escort for that evening.” Erin sat back and gave her belly a pat. “Thank the Lord.”
“I don’t like her,” Mia said, her face puckering as if she had just sucked on a lemon slice.
“And why not…Maya?” Erin asked sarcastically.
Erin and Mia giggled. Carina joined in a second later, playing her part and pretending that Josh hadn’t snuffed out the remaining embers of hope she had that she had meant something to him.
After Erin caught her breath she asked, “Carina, are you bringing a date to my wedding?” Carina didn’t know how to respond and simply stared at her two friends.
“Oh…crap.” Erin’s face grew white as a sheet. “Are you telling me I’ve forgotten to invite you to my wedding? Holy shit!”
Carina couldn’t help but laugh. She hadn’t thought it strange that she wasn’t invited to Erin’s wedding since they had just met a couple weeks ago.
“I don’t want to know what you must be thinking right now! Would it be in poor taste to blame my oversight on my crazy-ass hormones?”
Carina reached for Erin’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Stop that right now. You have a lot on your mind. And besides, we did just meet. I would have never assumed that I should be invited.”
Erin shook her head. “We may have just met, but I already feel like you’re part of our little group. Please say you’ll come to my wedding.”
Carina knew what she was committing to if she accepted the invitation; an evening trying to avoid Josh, an evening watching other women lust after him. But there was desperation and true regret in Erin’s eyes. There was no way she could tell this woman no. “I’d love to.”
***
Josh
“You look tired, hon. Trouble sleeping?”
Josh looked across the small round table for two and stared at a woman who men would give their left nut to fuck. At forty years old Amanda was in stunning physical shape. Her breasts were perky and lush. There was a slight curve to her hips, perfect for gripping when slamming her from behind. She also had long blonde hair that trailed down her back. On more than one occasion he had fisted those locks, yanking her head back to kiss her neck as he filled her with his cock.
“I was up late studying.” It was only a partial lie. He had studied well past midnight. But for two hours after he had closed his books for the night he had lain awake, thinking of Carina.
“You poor baby.” Amanda reached over and stroked his arm with her fingertips. The sudden gesture prompted him to look over at Carina’s table. She was watching him. More specifically, she was looking at Amanda’s hand slither along his forearm. He jerked his arm away and reached for his coffee.
“Well, it paid off. I think I aced the exam.” He wasn’t being cocky. School had always been easy for him. And medical school seemed to be no different. Rarely did he have to review a chapter. He was able to recall all the information in a single read and apply the concepts learned with relative ease. He knew that not everyone possessed this ability and therefore, he didn’t take it for granted.
“I have no doubt. You were my star pupil…in every way.” Again her hand crept toward him. To thwart her attempt he sat back in his chair, putting distance between them. He glanced over just in time to see Mia, Erin and Carina walking toward the front door. He didn’t want to see Carina leave, but he was grateful all the same. He knew he had hurt her. The pain in her eyes when he had caught her staring at him and Amanda, the betrayal that shouldn’t exist since they weren’t a couple, was evident and it made his heart ache.
“But right now you seem distracted.” Amanda had apparently followed his gaze. “Carina. What a lovely name. Don’t you think?”
The sound of Carina’s name coming from Amanda sobered him. He looked over at Amanda and saw suspicion in her eyes. He needed to get this meeting over with and rid his life of her once and for all. He had chosen this public place for a reason. If he had offered to meet her at his apartment, she would most likely have resorted to tactics that he would have easily been able to fend off. But he would have just embarrassed her further and he had no desire to degrade her. “The texts need to stop, Amanda. What we had is over.”
“I’m different now. I’ve changed. I’m willing to be what you need. I won’t ask for more. I’ll even share,” she said, her eyes pleading with him. Josh felt sorry for her, but that was it. He didn’t love her. He didn’t dream of her. He didn’t imagine growing old with her.
“Amanda, I don’t want to hurt you. But as I said before, I’m seeing someone.”
“Who is she?” Josh didn’t like her tone. It was laced with jealousy and anger. Amanda’s eyes narrowed.
Josh sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. This was a fucking mistake.
“Why are you avoiding my question?” She sat back in her chair and a smile suddenly overtook her face. The sight disturbed him. It was like another person had just joined him at the table. “Actually, you’ve avoided both my questions. I recall asking you if you thought Carina was a lovely name.”
Josh was furious with himself for underestimating Amanda. She wasn’t just a pretty face, but astute and quick with connecting the dots. “Carina is none of your concern.”
“Ahh. I see. Josh, I’m disappointed. You usually have a better poker face.” She chuckled, a sound that made his skin crawl. “So how long have you been fucking her?”
Josh had enough. He wasn’t getting anywhere with her. “We’re done, Amanda. Don’t contact me again.” He stood and began to walk away when she grabbed his arm.
“You are fucking her, aren’t you?” she asked with a twisted smile.
He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “No, I didn’t fuck her. I made love to her…slowly.”
Josh watched her smile disappear. He knew his words had stung. But he didn’t care. He meant what he said. Josh left the coffee house, leaving Amanda and everything he used to be behind.