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Willa gives me a Cheshire Cat grin. “Because it will piss her off.” She walks down the hall toward the garage.

“Would you two just fuck and get it over with?” I ask, more than a little irritated that Willa is leaving me.

“This is much more fun,” she says over her shoulder.

She’s closing the door behind her when I call out, “Says the woman who has been celibate for five years!”

The door is almost closed, but opens up a bit. Willa sticks her arm through the door, gives me the bird, then closes it behind her. A second later she opens it back up and sticks her head through. “You know what you need to do, Audrey.”

“No, I don’t!”

“When you figure it out, you know where to find me.”

With that, Willa is gone. I hear the garage door rise and close.

I put my head down on the kitchen table. She’s right. I should have just told Toni I love her the moment I saw her. I expected to have time later. How would I have known I was going to fall asleep so quickly? I assumed we would have time to talk like we did the first night. I smile, remembering the intimacy we shared after making love the first time. Our hands lightly touching, talking quietly, joking, smiling. My smile widens at her description of fair ups, and I laugh. So competitive, even when it comes to orgasms. I lift my head. What is our orgasm tally? I’m pretty sure she’s ahead.

Well, that won’t do at all.

It’s time I even the score, in more ways than one.

Twenty minutes later, wearing the same clothes I wore to work the day before, I walk into Greta’s office. Willa is there, sitting at her computer at the small conference table, Greta looking over her shoulder at the computer screen. They look up in surprise when I walk in.

“Greta, I need some hiking boots.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

TONI

For the first time in my life, the last place I want to be is on a mountain.

I had fun.

I cringe every time I think about those words coming out of my mouth. As if making love to Audrey could ever be described as merely “fun.” Life-changing, world-shaking, heartbreaking…all of those words describe being with her two nights ago. A colossal mistake is also a good description. Much nicer than Max’s You are such a fucking idiot comment.

I called Max from the airport at six a.m., which might explain her less than supportive response. “I didn’t think she’d show,” I said.

“How big of a part of you was hoping she would show up and confess her undying love?”

“Just a little,” I mumbled.

“Liar,” Max said, but her voice was kind. “I know you are in love, or think you are, but she’s using you, Toni, and you’re letting her.”

“Maybe I’m using her,” I said.

“Sure, because that sounds just like you.”

“It’s not like Audrey, either.”

“Hmm. You didn’t tell her you loved her during this magical night of sex, did you?”

“No, I’m not that stupid. I left before she was out of bed. I told her I had fun, and left.”

“I’m proud of you.”

“I’m not. It was awful.”

“No, meaningless sex is exactly what Audrey wants, and you know it.”