“Hey! Dummy!” Clint punched his shoulder. “Are you listening to me?”
“Hmm?”
“You wanted me to tell you what Jessica was planning on doing, weren’t you? And you decided to fade out on me.”
“Sorry!” Gregory cleared his throat, and they started walking the route back through the woods. He could tell neither of them was in the mood to go on their run anymore. “What was she thinking of doing? Stalking me? Harassing me by text message? She’s already done that.”
“Well, she was planning on saying that she was pregnant with your child.”
Gregory tripped and stumbled into Clint. His friend grabbed him and they staggered before they gained their footing back.
“Whoa, careful there!”
“Did I just hear you correctly? She was going to say she was carrying my kid?”
“Pretty much.”
Gregory snorted, shrugging Clint off him. His hands were sliding around on Gregory’s sweaty arms, and it was uncomfortable.
“Well, how’s she going to manage that? We haven’t been intimate since before I dumped her, and when I saw her last night, she did not look like she was about to pop with a kid.”
“I don’t know how she was going to figure that out, but she’s going to do it,” Clint shook his head, “it got rather noisy in the bar after that, and I wasn’t able to eavesdrop as much as I wanted. Not with that bachelorette party barging in and flirting with every guy who wasn’t with a woman, myself included.”
Gregory gave him a sardonic smile.
“I’m sure you enjoyed that.”
“Not really. I was waiting for my date, and I didn’t want to be seen having several drunk ladies pawing all over me.”
“You were on a date as well? Since when?”
“Since the last few weeks.” Clint put a finger to his lips. “I’m not saying more than that, seeing as we’re keeping it secret.”
“You went on a secret date in Cascade’s regular water hole? That’s not a secret.”
“I didn’t say we were going to go into the place together. Just meet up and go somewhere else.”
“And you never told me about it?”
“Why would I? We’re meant to be dating in secret. It only slipped out now.” Clint pointed at Gregory as he turned and started walking backwards. “You’d better not be telling anyone about this. I don’t want people to know that I’m not a bachelor anymore.”
“My lips are sealed,” Gregory raised his eyebrows, “you’re not dating a married woman, are you? That’s the only thing I can think of that you would have hidden your girlfriend from everyone.”
“No, she’s not married! I’m not that much of a dick. We just want to keep it nice and quiet for a while, that’s all.” Clint paused. “Plus, she’s a Baptist girl. Her parents won’t be impressed about us.”
“Clint!” Gregory stared. “You as well?”
“What can I say? I like the forbidden. Plus, she is exquisite.” Clint made a chef’s kiss gesture. “Just perfect. I didn’t think that there was a way to have a perfect woman, but I’ve found her.”
Gregory didn’t know what to say about that. Clint had never been quiet about his dates and conquests, so having his best friend behave like this was out of the ordinary. That meant this girl was special.
Just like Diane is special. If only she would realize it because I certainly have.
They were almost back at Gregory’s condo further up the road. Well, it had been called a condo in the advert, but it was more like a luxury cabin. It was situated on the edge of Cascade, right on the edge of the water.
Gregory had never fallen for a property before, but he loved this cabin. It was even better than his high-rise apartment in Boise. He could sit out on the back porch in the morning and watch the tranquil water while having his coffee. Plus, it was secluded while being close enough to town. Not a noise close by. Just what he needed.
Just as they reached the cabin, Gregory heard the sound of a car approaching. It was probably his mother; she had mentioned coming up to see him at some point during the week, although she was going to be busy in the city for a while. Had she changed her mind and come early?
But when Gregory and Clint went around the side of the house to the drive, it wasn’t Moira’s flashy car that was parked up beside Gregory’s BMW. Nor was it his mother who was getting out of the driver’s seat.
Gregory was sure his jaw had dropped to the ground when he saw Diane. She looked somewhat nervous, wearing a long green skirt and a white top that clung to her figure. A green scarf that matched her skirt was wrapped around her neck; her bag hung over her shoulder.
Gregory didn’t think he had seen anything more beautiful than the vision of her awkwardly standing by her car.
“Hi,” Diane mumbled.
“Hi.” Gregory realized he was staring like an idiot and cleared his throat. “I…I wasn’t expecting you to come up here.”
“Is it possible to speak with you? I won’t take up too much of your time.” Diane glanced at Clint. “If you’re busy, I can come back another time…?”
“Not, it’s fine,” Gregory said quickly. He looked over at Clint, who was watching their interaction with a sly smirk. “We’re going to have to cut this short, Clint if you’re good with that?”
“Oh, I’m fine with that,” Clint chuckled as he went over to his truck, “but you owe me, Greg. Like a lot.”
“Fine. I’ll let you have whatever you want.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” Clint winked at Diane, which made her smile nervously, “just be gentle with him. He’s very fragile.”
Gregory groaned.
“Clint….”
“Okay, okay, I’m going.” Clint opened the door to his truck. “Let me know when you’re available again. I don’t expect that to be for a while now.”
“Clint!”
Gregory didn’t think he had blushed in a long time, and now he was doing a lot of it. Clint was still laughing as he got into his truck and drove off, giving them both a wave as he disappeared from sight.
Then he was left with Diane. The woman who had turned his insides into a bunch of knots since they parted ways. And who was now standing in his driveway, looking very delicious, and making it hard for Gregory to keep his hands to himself!