London Bound by Jessica Jarman

supposed to be talking me down, right now. I call you after doing something stupid, and you talk me down. That’s your duty as my best friend.”
    “Oh, I’ll talk you down, all right, once we get to the real problem.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “It was good. Really good.” Caro’s brow lifted. “Better than with Scott, and you’re feeling guilty about that.”
    “It wasn’t better!” Meg clamped her mouth shut, cringing at how loudly the words echoed in the small space.
    “Meg, honey—”
    “It wasn’t better,” she repeated firmly. “It was...different. More intense, maybe, but not better.”
    “Okay, definitely not better.” Caro nodded. “But you are feeling guilty, aren’t you?”
    Meg blinked rapidly as her eyes burned. “I know it’s stupid, okay? It’s been years; it’s not like I’m cheating on him. I know that. It’s not guilt, really, because I know I don’t have anything to feel guilty about.”
    “But this is the first time you’ve let yourself be with someone,” Caro pointed out. “After Scott died, you focused everything on Aaron and Emily, and never tried to move on. At least, not in that aspect. So, a little freak out, now that it’s happened, is natural, don’t you think?”
    “I guess.”
    “As long as that’s what it is—a little freak out,” Caro said sternly. “You cannot obsess over this, Meg. You haven’t done anything wrong. Hiding away in that apartment until it’s time to come home isn’t an option. I’m dead serious. If you need to go to a hotel to enjoy the rest of your trip, then do it. On the other hand, if he was that good, and you want another round, and you think Mr. Hunky Neighbor would like to engage in such activities again...” She wiggled her eyebrows.
    Meg’s stomach flipped at the thought of being with Nathan again, and she tried to school her expression—and failed miserably, she realized when her friend squealed and clapped her hands.
    “Look at that blush...and you’re squirming! You do want to go again with him, don’t you? Niiiice .”
    “Doesn’t matter what I want,” Meg protested tightly. “It was a one-time thing, and I got out of there as quickly as I could, so I’d say the chance of a repeat performance is slim...closer to none.”
    “You ran out? Oh, Meg.” Caro sighed, disappointment rife in her voice.
    “What was I supposed to do? Wait until morning for him push me out the door? No, thank you.”
    “I think you’re underestimating him and yourself.”
    “You don’t even know him. I don’t know him.”
    “But I know you . If you took a chance on him, he can’t be too bad. He must be smart enough to realize what a beautiful, intelligent, amazing woman he had the privilege to take home last night.”
    Meg snorted. “You have to say that; you’re my best friend.”
    “Doesn’t make it any less true.” Her gaze focused on something beyond the computer screen, and Meg heard the murmur of another voice in the distance. “I’ll be right down.” She looked at Meg, exasperated. “So much for hiding out.”
    “Bad luck.” She laughed. “Go, be with your family, honey. I’ll talk to you soon.”
    “I can stay on a bit longer if you need...”
    “No,” Meg said quickly. “I’m going to try to get a few hours of sleep then do the tourist thing. Emily’s counting on pictures.”
    “All right. Sleep well, honey. Just...just promise me something?”
    “What’s that?”
    “Promise that you’ll enjoy yourself. If that means indulging in a scorching hot fling while on vacation, embrace it. This trip is supposed to be about you.”
    “I hardly think that’s what the kids had in mind when they bought be the tickets.” Meg laughed.
    “Hardly their business,” Caro countered. “So long as you get pics of the sights, no reason they have to know what other British delights you’ve been sampling. Although, I’d like a full report of all the loving. Another best friend duty,