What’s risky? What are you risking?”
“My health, for one thing.”
What?
“Your health?”
“Look, Alex, I know you sleep around. That’s fine. I have no problem with that. Your lifestyle is your business. But when you suggest that I hook up with you, then it becomes my business too.”
“Claire, I’m not stupid. I use protection every single time.”
“And we barely know each other. I don’t go on trips with men I barely know.”
“Maybe you should. How long were you stuck with peckerhead?”
“Ten years.”
“How many of those were you stifled?” She glanced away. “And don’t tell me you weren’t. I know you were. I can see how different you are now that you’re away from him. You’re not in the cage anymore, Claire. The door’s wide open. All you have to do is fly out of it.”
Chapter Seven
After dinner, Erin needed Claire to help her in the bathroom. Because the portable restrooms, although nice and clean, gave Erin the heebie-jeebies, they made the trek up to Elliot’s house.
“So you think it’s going well?” Erin asked.
Claire held Erin’s dress up as she used the toilet. “It’s the most beautiful, wonderful wedding I’ve ever been to. And I’m not just saying that because I helped plan it.”
“It is, isn’t it? I’m so happy, sis. I never thought I’d be this happy.”
“I’m happy
for
you. You deserve this.” Claire helped her sister get off the toilet and rearrange her skirts. “And I think it’s safe to say now that I’m glad you didn’t end up with that doctor character.”
“Dr. O? You never even met him.”
Claire shrugged. “I know. But from what you told me about him, he seemed kind of boring.”
Erin laughed, but Claire wasn’t finished. “I...I’m just really glad you didn’t make the same mistake I made.”
With a soft gasp, Erin grew wistful. “Oh, Claire. I—”
“No, sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. This is your special day and I will
not
ruin it by bringing up my messed-up marriage.”
“Hey, listen to me. We’re sisters. Your pain is my pain and any time you want to vent, I’m here for you. I know it’s been really hard on you. I wish you and Vic had figured things out years ago.”
“You and me both.”
“But hey, look at you. You’ve made yourself over—or at least back into the Claire I used to know and you’re ready to find yourself a wonderful, loving...what? What’s with the face? Are you not ready? Because I totally get that you might not be ready.”
Claire smiled as they left Elliot’s house and started back to the tent. “No, I think I’m still in that transition phase. I’m okay with dating someone, but I don’t want a relationship. Not yet. In fact...” Claire shook her head. “No. Never mind.”
Erin scoffed. “Nope. Too late. In fact, what?”
“I’m thinking about...going on a fun trip with someone.”
Erin beamed. “I think that’s a fantastic idea. Where? Who?”
“The destination’s still up in the air.”
“Who are you going with?”
Claire picked up her pace.
“Claire...” Then she gasped. “Oh my God, don’t tell me you’re thinking about hooking up with Alex Sullivan.”
“All right.”
“Claire, no! That man is nothing more than a walking penis.”
“That’s not true. He has plenty of good qualities.”
Erin stopped short. “All right. He’s a walking penis who can play hockey.”
“Come on,” Claire said. “He’s funny and fun to be with. He’s a wonderful public speaker. You can’t deny that.”
Erin resumed walking. “And he has a booty babe in every major city in the United States
and
Canada.”
“Which is exactly why he’s safe. We’d both be going into it knowing it’s just a fling.”
“Famous last words.”
They were halfway back to the reception and Claire could see quite a few people skating now. Their laughter carried on the evening air. Really, the night was perfect. The stars were out. The weather was not too hot, not too
“My health, for one thing.”
What?
“Your health?”
“Look, Alex, I know you sleep around. That’s fine. I have no problem with that. Your lifestyle is your business. But when you suggest that I hook up with you, then it becomes my business too.”
“Claire, I’m not stupid. I use protection every single time.”
“And we barely know each other. I don’t go on trips with men I barely know.”
“Maybe you should. How long were you stuck with peckerhead?”
“Ten years.”
“How many of those were you stifled?” She glanced away. “And don’t tell me you weren’t. I know you were. I can see how different you are now that you’re away from him. You’re not in the cage anymore, Claire. The door’s wide open. All you have to do is fly out of it.”
Chapter Seven
After dinner, Erin needed Claire to help her in the bathroom. Because the portable restrooms, although nice and clean, gave Erin the heebie-jeebies, they made the trek up to Elliot’s house.
“So you think it’s going well?” Erin asked.
Claire held Erin’s dress up as she used the toilet. “It’s the most beautiful, wonderful wedding I’ve ever been to. And I’m not just saying that because I helped plan it.”
“It is, isn’t it? I’m so happy, sis. I never thought I’d be this happy.”
“I’m happy
for
you. You deserve this.” Claire helped her sister get off the toilet and rearrange her skirts. “And I think it’s safe to say now that I’m glad you didn’t end up with that doctor character.”
“Dr. O? You never even met him.”
Claire shrugged. “I know. But from what you told me about him, he seemed kind of boring.”
Erin laughed, but Claire wasn’t finished. “I...I’m just really glad you didn’t make the same mistake I made.”
With a soft gasp, Erin grew wistful. “Oh, Claire. I—”
“No, sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. This is your special day and I will
not
ruin it by bringing up my messed-up marriage.”
“Hey, listen to me. We’re sisters. Your pain is my pain and any time you want to vent, I’m here for you. I know it’s been really hard on you. I wish you and Vic had figured things out years ago.”
“You and me both.”
“But hey, look at you. You’ve made yourself over—or at least back into the Claire I used to know and you’re ready to find yourself a wonderful, loving...what? What’s with the face? Are you not ready? Because I totally get that you might not be ready.”
Claire smiled as they left Elliot’s house and started back to the tent. “No, I think I’m still in that transition phase. I’m okay with dating someone, but I don’t want a relationship. Not yet. In fact...” Claire shook her head. “No. Never mind.”
Erin scoffed. “Nope. Too late. In fact, what?”
“I’m thinking about...going on a fun trip with someone.”
Erin beamed. “I think that’s a fantastic idea. Where? Who?”
“The destination’s still up in the air.”
“Who are you going with?”
Claire picked up her pace.
“Claire...” Then she gasped. “Oh my God, don’t tell me you’re thinking about hooking up with Alex Sullivan.”
“All right.”
“Claire, no! That man is nothing more than a walking penis.”
“That’s not true. He has plenty of good qualities.”
Erin stopped short. “All right. He’s a walking penis who can play hockey.”
“Come on,” Claire said. “He’s funny and fun to be with. He’s a wonderful public speaker. You can’t deny that.”
Erin resumed walking. “And he has a booty babe in every major city in the United States
and
Canada.”
“Which is exactly why he’s safe. We’d both be going into it knowing it’s just a fling.”
“Famous last words.”
They were halfway back to the reception and Claire could see quite a few people skating now. Their laughter carried on the evening air. Really, the night was perfect. The stars were out. The weather was not too hot, not too
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