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Chapters (66)
  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. Chapter One
  5. Chapter Two
  6. Chapter Three
  7. Chapter Four
  8. Chapter Five
  9. Chapter Six
  10. Chapter Seven
  11. Chapter Eight
  12. Chapter Nine
  13. Chapter Ten
  14. Chapter Eleven
  15. Chapter Twelve
  16. Chapter Thirteen
  17. Chapter Fourteen
  18. Chapter Fifteen
  19. Chapter Sixteen
  20. Chapter Seventeen
  21. Chapter Eighteen
  22. Chapter Nineteen
  23. Chapter Twenty
  24. Chapter Twenty-One
  25. Chapter Twenty-Two
  26. Chapter Twenty-Three
  27. Chapter Twenty-Four
  28. Chapter Twenty-Five
  29. Chapter Twenty-Six
  30. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  31. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  32. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  33. Chapter Thirty
  34. Chapter Thirty-One
  35. Chapter Thirty-Two
  36. Chapter Thirty-Three
  37. Chapter Thirty-Four
  38. Chapter Thirty-Five
  39. Chapter Thirty-Six
  40. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  41. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  42. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  43. Chapter Forty
  44. Chapter Forty-One
  45. Chapter Forty-Two
  46. Chapter Forty-Three
  47. Chapter Forty-Four
  48. Chapter Forty-Five
  49. Chapter Forty-Six
  50. Chapter Forty-Seven
  51. Chapter Forty-Eight
  52. Chapter Forty-Nine
  53. Chapter Fifty
  54. Chapter Fifty-One
  55. Chapter Fifty-Two
  56. Chapter Fifty-Three
  57. Chapter Fifty-Four
  58. Chapter Fifty-Five
  59. Chapter Fifty-Six
  60. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  61. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  62. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  63. Chapter Sixty
  64. Chapter Sixty-One
  65. Chapter Sixty-Two
  66. Acknowledgments

That weekend was the beginning of March, a bipolar month of frigid days mixed with equally lovely days. Elliott woke me early with breakfast in bed. It was as colorful as it was delicious. He nibbled on my toes and ears as I tried to eat. Then he removed the tray from the bed, removed my nightgown, and proceeded to make love to me as if he were trying to earn a Michelin star.

“Happy, darling? It is so good to see you smiling again.”

“I am happy. Do you have enough in you for seconds?” I asked. He did. He tried even harder, earning another Michelin star in my book.

“I hate to do this to you, but I don’t think I can make it to Elizabeth’s wedding. This back pain is so unpredictable. I need to be able to lie down. You don’t mind going alone, do you?” he said as he took another pain pill. “Weddings are for women anyway. Besides, you’re going to be way too busy to miss me.” It stunned me.

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I broke the news a few days later. “By the way, Elle, Elliott isn’t going to be able to make it to your wedding.” This piece of news landed as I had expected. And dreaded.

“Honey, what’s wrong?” Reggie asked, taking my hand in hers. “You can tell us. Even Dave noticed you’re spending more time at our apartment than Elliott’s. I thought you guys were supposed to be moving in together. Are you fighting?”

“Everything’s fine. Just fine. You know Elliott has a bad back. It’s just easier for him sometimes to sleep alone.”

“Sometimes, Bailey, you are the Rubik’s Cube of emotion. Speaking of wrong, have you taken a decent look at yourself in the mirror lately? Why are you laughing? Has someone else referred to you that way? You’re way too thin,” Elle said.

“You can never be too thin, my dears. And actually, no. It’s just amusing,” I deflected, remembering how I’d referred to Griffin that way from time to time.

“He must be good in bed. If he’s more private than you,” Elle said.

“He is,” I smiled. It was true of either man. My friends exchanged purposeful looks but said nothing. I didn’t know which was more frightening: them giving me a piece of their minds or staying stone silent.