The Secret of You and Me by Melissa Lenhardt

Author:Melissa Lenhardt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Graydon House Books
Published: 2020-06-01T19:22:51+00:00

* * *

I was in the kitchen making lunch, wondering how my life had suddenly become a train wreck, and plotting how I was going to get Alima out of town without meeting Sophie, when Kim knocked on my front door.

“Kim. I completely forgot you were coming.”

“I texted I was on my way.”

“Oh, right.” I hadn’t looked at my phone since Alima drove up.

“Gosh,” she said, walking in and looking around much as Alima did, but with less judgment, “I haven’t been here since high school.”

I smiled, trying to remember when I’d ever invited Kim to my house. Ray hadn’t been a fan of slumber parties. Our walls were too thin for him to deal with five or six giggling girls who stayed up until all hours of the night. And most everyone was afraid of Ray. Except for Sophie. He liked her because she talked to him about cows and his job, his two favorite subjects. Sophie had a little bit of Eddie Haskell in her, but my father didn’t realize she was manipulating him. If Ray had a soft spot for anyone, he had one for Sophie. Brenda Russell’s revelation had been a betrayal to him on two fronts.

“It hasn’t changed much,” I said.

“No. Mind if I look around?”

“Sure. Hold off on my, um...dad’s room. A friend is visiting from DC to help with everything.”

“Wow. What a friend.”

I suppressed a grin. I wondered if Kim was astute enough to see what kind of friend Alima was. Did I care if she did? Not really. I hadn’t come out to anyone in Lynchfield, and I didn’t intend to. But, I wasn’t going to go to great lengths to keep my sexuality a secret either.

“Have you had lunch? I’ll heat us up some King Ranch Chicken.”

“A couple of hours ago. Thanks anyway.”

“Did I hear someone say lunch?” Alima walked into the den, rubbing her dark, wet hair with a towel, wearing impossibly short shorts and a tank without a bra. For a woman pushing fifty, she was striking. Why would I risk this for the uncertainty Sophie would bring into my life? Talk about a potential train wreck.

Kim’s mouth dropped open, and she emitted a little “oh” as someone knocked on the front door.

“Kim, Alima, Alima, Kim,” I said, as I went automatically to the door. They were exchanging pleasantries when I opened it.

Sophie stood on my porch, looking unsure of herself, and a little flushed. “Hey.”

My breath rushed out of me at the sight of her, and I was right back in Sophie’s car. It wasn’t the kiss I thought of, but the joy of sitting with her and...talking.

“Oh, hey. I didn’t know you were coming by.”

“I, um...well...was hoping we could...um...” She pushed her sunglasses onto her head and her gaze drifted to my lips. Her neck turned splotchy. I remembered that reaction. “Talk. About earlier, and other stuff.”

She looked past me and saw Kim and Alima. Her confused gaze lingered on Alima. “Hi, Kim.”

Oh, Christ. So much for getting Alima out of town.

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