Take Me Home for Christmas (Whiskey Creek #5)(40)
Author: Brenda Novak

“Sophia, I’m sorry,” she said when they both froze and gaped at each other. “We couldn’t tell if that was the doorbell. We…we were groggy…not quite awake.”

We. Sophia felt as if Eve had slugged her in the stomach. She wasn’t sure why. Ted had the right to take whoever he wanted to bed, even a close friend. She’d always assumed he was sleeping with other women. He was a single, virile man in his thirties. Of course he was sleeping with other women. He wouldn’t remain celibate all his life just because she’d married someone else.

But she’d never had to encounter him with a love interest. He hadn’t had a single steady girlfriend since they broke up, not one she’d known about. And she’d certainly never dreamed he was sleeping with Eve!

When her cheeks flushed hot, she hoped Eve wouldn’t notice—but Eve seemed equally embarrassed. “It’s no problem. I…I didn’t see your car outside or I wouldn’t have let myself in. I figured Ted was in the shower.”

Eve’s hands kept messing with her hair, tucking it behind her ears or smoothing it down—more evidence of her self-consciousness. “My car’s not here. I—I rode over with Ted last night.”

Sophia nodded. The towel in her hands made what she was doing obvious, but she still felt compelled to explain her presence outside his bedroom door. “I only came up here because I saw the water on the floor and was trying to—to dry it before someone could slip.” She picked up the bikini and handed both pieces to Eve. “I’ll get breakfast and make enough for two.” She headed down the stairs but paused on the landing. “Should I set places in the dining room or would you like me to bring the food up on a tray?”

“I wasn’t planning to stay,” Eve said. “I need to get home so I can dress and go over to the B and B.”

Sophia willed her pulse to slow, but that seemed futile. “Are you sure? Because I could whip up some eggs really fast.”

“Ted’s getting in the shower. That’ll take a few minutes, so…I’ll go to work and eat there. Maybe the three of us can have a meal together another time.” She smiled as if that was a possibility but Sophia knew it wasn’t.

“Absolutely. Do you need a ride?”

Eve dangled a set of keys. “Ted’s letting me take his car.”

“I see.”

“Your costume’s folded on a chair in the game room, by the way. Thanks for lending it to me. Last night was a lot of fun.”

Sophia didn’t doubt it. How many times had she imagined herself back in Ted’s bed? Those fantasies, and a great deal of alcohol, had pulled her through thirteen years of being married to the wrong person.

A flash of pain warned Sophia that she was digging too deeply at her cuticles, but the pain didn’t outweigh the relief it somehow gave her. Even the knowledge that she was making her hands ugly didn’t stop her. “I’m glad I could help. You—you’ve been so good to me.”

Sophia heard movement in the room behind Eve. Afraid that Ted would appear wearing nothing but a satisfied grin and a pair of boxers, she made a concerted effort to get away. She didn’t want to see him kiss Eve goodbye. Nor did she want him to see her standing at the bottom of the stairs, gaping up at them in envy. “I’ll go and start the coffee.”

Once she reached the privacy of the kitchen, she sank into a chair and rested her head in her hands. What did you expect? That he’d choose you?

Of course he wouldn’t. Why would he? Besides, she liked Eve and wanted her to be happy.

“I’ll see you later.”

She jumped as Eve, still dressed in Ted’s clothes since she was returning the Halloween costume, ducked her head into the room. “Have a—a good day,” Sophia managed to stutter.

Eve paused. “Everything’s going okay for you here?”

“Oh, yes. Great.” Pasting yet another smile on her face, she prayed Eve wouldn’t realize that she hadn’t started the coffee. She hadn’t done a damn thing except try to regain her equilibrium.

“I’m glad to hear it.” With a wave, she was gone. But it wasn’t long before Ted came down, showered and wearing a T-shirt with a darker pair of jeans than he’d had on yesterday. He hadn’t shaved, but that made him look better instead of worse. Fortunately, by the time he appeared she had coffee brewing and was scrambling some eggs.

“Morning,” he said.

She didn’t look up. “Morning.”

“You okay?”

At first, she assumed he’d read what she was feeling. But then she saw that her thumb was bleeding and grabbed a paper towel to wipe the blood. “Fine.”

He came closer. “Did you cut yourself or…”

She hid her hands behind her back. “No.”

Two lines formed between his eyes. “I thought I saw blood.”

“It’s nothing. I’ll get a Band-Aid.”

When he sat down at the kitchen table, she cursed silently. He was going to stay until she’d cooked breakfast. She hadn’t done so well when he’d been watching her type, so she tried to pay particular attention to what she was doing now.

“Eve told me what happened to Lexi yesterday,” he said. “I’m sorry about that.”

She kept her eyes on her skillet because she couldn’t bear to look at him quite yet. “Thanks. Um…you can get to work if you want. I’ll bring this up when it’s ready.”

“I’ll go in a second.” His chair squeaked against the floor, but he didn’t get up, even though she’d just given him the perfect opportunity to flee the kitchen. “Will you be able to get the details?”

“Excuse me?” She forced herself to glance at him.

“I’m talking about the fight—what happened to Alexa.”

She returned her attention to the food. “There’s nothing I can do about that, even if I learn the details.”

“You can go to the school, talk to the principal.”

“Lex begged me not to. She said that would only make the kids treat her worse.”

“So is she at home today or…”

“She couldn’t miss math. Her—her grades are…not what they should be. We’re both afraid she’ll end up having to repeat seventh grade if we’re not careful, and we don’t want that.”

“Of course not.”

Thankfully, the eggs were done and she could scoop them onto a plate. “Would you like some toast?”