All Things Beautiful by Alaina Erdell

Author:Alaina Erdell [Erdell, Alaina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2024-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-four

Casey would wager the noise inside Fun City Play Place worked as a form of birth control for many people. Loud music with pulsing bass, squealing tires, raucous children, and a myriad of buzzers and sirens emanating from various games filled the enormous building.

Casey handed Leighton another napkin from the dispenser. It amused her to watch Leighton pat the oil from each pepperoni round before taking a bite of the pizza. “You’re not getting the full experience.” Casey winked. “All the flavor is in the oil.”

Leighton’s scowl and clenched jaw made her laugh.

Andy and Kalyssa played on the jungle gym with its maze of slides, bridges, and tubes. Kalyssa allowed Andy to lead but treated him like a hen incubating an egg. Every so often, Casey or Leighton would hear knocking. They’d find the kids waving to them from one of the bubble windows.

“It’s not as good as the pizza I had at your place.” Leighton dabbed the corner of her mouth with a napkin.

Casey loved how Leighton lifted the slice to take a bite and didn’t use a knife and fork. She was otherwise so elegant and well-mannered. Maybe her pizza-eating habits came from being a native New Yorker.

“We can order it again.” She hoped Leighton caught the implicit welcome.

“Hmm.” Leighton raised her eyebrows and appeared to mull it over. “Do you think we should?”

Leighton must be relaxed because that sounded suspiciously like flirting. “I do.” Casey met her gaze and didn’t look away. She wasn’t sure if they spoke of pizza or something more, but her answer remained the same. When Leighton paused to drink, Casey remembered why they were there. “I know he’s an asshole, and Maxine pays him to stay away, but what made you decide to leave your ex? That couldn’t have been easy.”

Leighton stilled for an instant and her eyes became unfocused, but she quickly regained her composure.

“I’m sorry. You don’t have to answer that.” Casey brushed stray red pepper flakes from the checkered tabletop. “That was rude of me to ask.”

“You’ll miss out on opportunities if you apologize before you give someone a chance to answer.”

Leighton’s intensity made Casey shove her nervous hands beneath her legs.

“He was pleasant and charming at first, and I loved him.”

Casey squirmed hearing Leighton talk about being in love, even if it no longer existed.

“He was charming and showered me with attention. At the time, I was an up-and-coming artist. Some critics said I had the potential to be the next great living master.” Leighton looked away. “Then I got married.”

Knowing what she knew about the result of Leighton’s marriage, Casey’s chest ached at what was coming.

“Shortly after our honeymoon, he took over our household finances, arranged all our vacation plans, and made almost every other decision in our lives. I never had to worry about anything.” She folded her napkin. “At first, I was grateful. It gave me plenty of time to paint. Soon, I learned the problem with giving up control is that it’s almost impossible to get back.

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