The Opposite of Wild (10 page)

She nodded and turned to the next person in line, purposely not looking at Ryan, though she could feel him watching her from where he stood with Shane and Maggie. She put extra effort into being cheerful for the customers.

She helped her parents for another hour until her mom shooed her out. “It’s getting dark. Go ahead and see the fireworks. We’ll clean up here.”

“It’s okay, Mom. I can help.” She wasn’t in the mood for fireworks.

Just then Daisy appeared. “C’mon, Liz, it’s almost time.”

And because it was her last night with Daisy, she took off her apron and followed her sister. As the crowd
oohed
and
aahed
over the colorful display, Liz thought of the baby and the little boy he’d become, and all the other families returning year after year. Her nephew would never know this tradition. He’d be part of new traditions out West, far, far from home.

Next year, she’d be watching the fireworks with Rachel. Her time with Maggie a distant memory. She thought of Ryan, the way he teased her. No guy had ever joked around with her like he did. She didn’t know how to handle it—hated feeling off-kilter when he was around—but she had to admit, he was growing on her. If it hadn’t been for The Humiliation and his well-known reputation for dumping women after three dates, she might have even considered…something.

The last firework display sailed into the air with a whistle, and her sister grinned at her and squeezed her hand. Green sparks shot through the sky, followed by silver, and tiny swirls of red, white, and blue. Her first and last Fourth of July with her nephew.

Chapter Nine

Liz woke early the next morning to say goodbye to her sister. Their father had agreed to drive Daisy to the airport. Their mother was still too mad over her daughter’s departure to make an appearance.

“Dad, you look so different,” Liz told him when he arrived. She touched his hair. “So young. It looks good.” He was sixty-five and had dyed his white hair back to its original blond.

He patted his hair. “Yeah? Daisy did it for me yesterday. You know I try to keep fit, and she pointed out it was the one thing that made me look old. So, she fixed it.”

Daisy hustled by with a duffel bag overflowing with clothes. She’d stopped by her old apartment with their dad yesterday to pick up the rest of her stuff. “Doesn’t he look great?”

“Yes,” Liz said. “Wait, you can borrow my suitcase. It has wheels, and you can fit more.”

“Are you sure? You won’t need it?” Daisy pushed her long, flyaway hair out of her face.

“I’ll borrow one from Mom and Dad when I come out to visit and bring mine back then. Okay, Dad?” Liz asked.

“Fine by me.” He remained standing, jangling his keys, his signal that they needed to get on the road. He should be used to waiting for them to get ready by now. Liz wasn’t too worried, her dad had shown up extra early, and there was still time.

She pulled her suitcase from her bedroom closet and repacked Daisy’s stuff while Daisy headed for the kitchen to grab some snacks for the plane. Sundresses, huge maternity underwear, bras, pajamas, and a large makeup case. She slipped her favorite book,
What to Expect When You’re Expecting,
into a side pocket.

Daisy stepped into the bedroom just as Liz finished packing, and gave her a brilliant smile. “I’m ready. We good?”

Liz rolled over the suitcase. “We’re good,” she said with a watery smile.

Daisy hugged her tightly. “I’ll never forget what you did for me. I love you, sis.”

“Love you too,” Liz mumbled into her sister’s shoulder.

And then she was off. Her father took over the suitcase, hollered, “Bye, love!” and the door slammed behind them.

Her apartment was quiet.

Liz got to work.

She changed the sheets on the bed and straightened up the bedroom, removing several towels from the dreaded treadmill. She hadn’t used it since Daisy had moved in. She kept it in her bedroom to remind her of the work that came with excess calories. She moved on to her closet, cleaned her bathroom, the kitchen (though it was still pretty clean from her last go-through), and finally the living room. By the time she finished, it was like Daisy had never lived there.

That night, she sat alone at her kitchen table and ate a dinner of leftover quiche with the pinot grigio that had been waiting in her refrigerator since Daisy’s arrival. She would’ve felt guilty drinking wine in front of Daisy, knowing her sister couldn’t have any. The wine was as good as the review she’d read in the store. Still, she stopped at one glass, unwilling even in her sad state to up the calories on MyFoodBuddy enough to require the treadmill.

Her cell vibrated on the counter, and she picked it up. A text from Rachel.

Rachel:
How are you?

Liz:
Fine

Rachel:
Want me to come over?

Liz:
Going to bed early

Rachel:
Remember the silver lining. We’re Swinging Singles.

Liz snorted.

Rachel:
Sexy Singles

Liz: LOL

Rachel: :p
Night

Liz:
Night

Inspired by Rachel’s insistence on looking for the good in the situation, she grabbed the notepad she kept on the counter for messages and grocery lists and wrote:

Silver Lining

My bed

Dancing in the living room

Guilt-free wine drinking

That was all she could think of. The loss of Daisy and her nephew weighed heavily on her heart. She stuck the list on her refrigerator with a magnet to remind her of the good in going back to her old life. She went to her room and pulled the baby blue footy pajamas she’d bought out of the closet. They were so tiny, so sweet, with a teddy bear embroidered on the front and little bears with ears sticking out of the footies. She’d bring it with her as soon as she heard her sister was in labor. She wouldn’t miss a thing.

She broke down in tears.

She would miss everything.

~ ~ ~

Liz sat on the loveseat in Maggie’s living room with a cup of tea and Milano cookies on Monday morning, trying to think of the best way to explain the situation.

“How are you, dear?” Maggie asked.

“Daisy moved to New Mexico,” Liz blurted.

“Oh, honey. When did this happen? I know you’ll miss her—”

“Yesterday!” Liz cried. “She’s taking my nephew away from me! I’m going to miss out on everything.” She burst into tears. “I want to believe that she’ll put the baby first,” she said through her tears, gesturing wildly, “but I’m afraid she won’t. Our baby shouldn’t grow up at a New Age resort far from family. He should grow up here, knowing his grandparents and his aunt!”

“I agree that home and family are important,” Maggie said. “But, Liz, this isn’t your baby. Daisy has to do what she feels is best as the mother.”

“But the baby needs me!” Liz grabbed a tissue from her purse and wiped away the tears that just wouldn’t stop coming. “Daisy is so…all over the place! And the father’s not in the picture.”

Maggie got up from her chair and sat next to Liz, pulling her into her arms for a good cry.

When she’d finished, Liz sat up and sniffled. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to cry all over you.”

“I know how much you were looking forward to helping with the baby.” Maggie stroked her hair. “And you will be a wonderful aunt even if it’s a little more long distance than you thought.”

Liz sniffled. “Thanks.” She gave her a watery smile. Suddenly famished, she snarfed down three cookies in record time. She drank some tea to wash them down. Then she remembered the reason for her visit. “Maggie, now that Daisy’s gone, I won’t be visiting every day anymore. Of course, I’ll still visit regularly.”

Maggie let go of Liz and looked her in the eye. “Ryan was still paying you, wasn’t he?”

“Yes,” Liz admitted. “But I would’ve come even if he hadn’t been.”

“I’m going to kill him,” Maggie muttered. “I wondered why you stopped by every day. I thought you must really need me. Let’s just hang out when we have plans. Deal?”

Liz nodded. Then she grabbed another tissue and blew her nose. “I’m glad we’re friends. Do you want to give knitting club another try tomorrow?”

“No way. I quit, remember? I’ve got something better in mind.” She smiled. “We’ll go for a ride. I think a change of scenery is just what you need.”

“Okay.” Liz stood with the tissues in hand to throw them out. “Actually tomorrow’s my birthday. The big three-oh. My parents are hosting a party at Garner’s tomorrow night at seven. I’d love it if you’d come.”

“Sounds great.” Maggie grinned. “I’m sure we’ll be pumped for a party after our day together.”

A tickling of unease went through Liz as she headed for the kitchen, but she pushed it away. Maggie was right. A change of scenery was just what she needed.

~ ~ ~

Ryan rang Liz’s doorbell and waited, holding a bag from Ernie’s diner, two towns over, with their famous chicken noodle soup and a DVD. He didn’t expect to stay, but Gran had told him earlier today that Liz had quit and was, as Gran put it, “devastated” over her sister leaving.
Bringing Up Baby
always cheered up Gran, and she’d told him it was one of Liz’s favorites. It was funny—if you liked old black-and-white movies.

No response to the doorbell. He knew she was in there; he’d seen her car out front. His heart kicked up a notch. He knocked hard and didn’t stop. “Liz, you all right?” he called through the door.

The door swung open suddenly to Liz standing there in a long Snoopy T-shirt that ended mid-thigh and nothing else. Her slender legs, bare and beautiful. He never thought a Snoopy T-shirt could look so sexy. He tore his gaze back up to her face. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her hair wasn’t perfect. It was mussed up on one side.

“Quiet down,” she said, “you’re going to disturb my neighbors.”

“Did I wake you?” he asked. It was only seven, but…bed head and Snoopy nightgown.

“What are you doing here?” She sounded worn out.

He shoved the bag and DVD into her hands. “I brought soup and a movie that always makes Gran laugh. I thought it might make you feel better.” He took a step back. “So…goodnight.”

“Wait!” She waved him in. “Have some soup with me.”

He stepped in slowly.

She looked at the movie. “Oh, I have this one. It’s my favorite.” She smiled. “It was so sweet of you to bring it, though. And the soup. Thank you.”

He followed her to the kitchen and read a strange list on her refrigerator: my bed, dancing in the living room, guilt-free wine drinking. Sounded like a hot date in reverse. A few minutes later, he sat at her small kitchen table, a bowl of soup in front of him. “So you like to dance in the living room?”

She shot out of her seat, giving him a glimpse of silk panties as she tore the list off the refrigerator and stuffed it in a drawer. She returned to her seat and carefully placed a napkin on her lap. He waited for her to make eye contact.
There it is
. Her blue eyes flashed anger, bringing a fierce energy to her. He knew he shouldn’t—he just couldn’t help it—he liked it when she was riled up. A lot. It sure beat the prim control she wore like a shield.

He suppressed a smile and ate his soup.

“Would you like a drink?” Liz asked after a moment.

“I’ll take some guilt-free wine,” he replied.

She stood, eyes ablaze, and said in an even tone, “You can leave now.”

His eyes widened. “Damn, Liz, I was just joking. I don’t even drink.”

She pointed to the door.

He wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood. He’d been trying to make her feel better, take her mind off things, and he’d screwed it all up. “Liz, come on…”

She blinked rapidly.
Not the tears
. Anger he could handle. But a crying woman? The worst. He never knew what to say to them. He
always
made things worse. Shane was much better at this girl stuff—Mr. Sensitive. He exhaled sharply. He sucked at talking
.
Damn, damn, damn
.
I can’t leave her like this.

“C’mere,” he said and pulled her into his arms for a hug. She stood stiffly for a minute, arms at her side, then slowly put her arms around him and sighed. She fit perfectly in his arms. She looked up at him with those weepy eyes, and he just wanted to make it all better.

Cradling her face with one hand, he leaned down and kissed her. Her lips were soft and yielding and made him want more. Her hands clutched at his shirt, which he took as a good sign, so he deepened the kiss, loving the taste of her, a little salty from the soup. She made little moaning sounds in the back of her throat that had him going rock hard. He stroked her back, feeling the heat of her skin through the thin cotton, urging her closer, needing to feel her curvy body pressed against his.

Suddenly, she shoved against his chest, and he released her.

She was breathing fast, eyes wide, staring at him. “You should go,” she said in a shaky voice.

He jammed a hand in his hair, feeling like a complete ass. He’d come to cheer her up, and instead, he’d taken advantage. He struggled for the right words and came up short.

He left, shutting the door quietly behind him.

~ ~ ~

“I just kissed Ryan O’Hare,” Liz confessed to Rachel with a hysterical laugh. She’d called her friend the moment the door shut behind Ryan.

“Omigod, hold on, I’m checking out a customer.” There was a rustle in the background. “I think you guys are really going to enjoy this one. Very uplifting and funny too.”

She’d forgotten Rachel stayed open late on Mondays to host The Thinking Mom’s book club. She wiped her sweaty palms on the back of her Snoopy T-shirt. She could hear Rachel talking to someone in the background.

“Okay, Janelle’s taking over the register,” Rachel said into the phone.

“I can call back.”

“It’s okay. We were just wrapping up, and they’re buying the book for next month. Janelle’s got this. Okay, I’m in my office. Talk.”

Liz flashed back to that intense heat, the overwhelming pull she’d felt toward Ryan that made her forget everything—who she was, where she was, what she was doing. Luckily, she’d come to her senses. She’d known the boy he was, but she barely knew the man he was now. Could she ever look at him and forget The Humiliation?