Erin moved over the threshold, forcing Julie back a few steps. “I just found out something really awful, and I need to talk.”

Julie pushed the door closed. “Okay. I was asleep, but, yeah, that’s what best friends are for. What did you find out that’s so awful?”

Erin pushed at her wind-tousled hair. “Wyatt Fitzgerald raped a woman.”

Chapter Eight

Julie looked as if her feet had put down roots through her wood floor. Her eyes went wide, and her face drained of color, making her smoky-rose pajamas look almost red next to her skin.

“What?” she whispered. “Say that again, because my brain just froze.”

“He didn’t do it intentionally,” Erin hurried to say. “Don’t misunderstand.”

The sleepy look left Julie’s eyes. “How in the hell can a man rape a woman without meaning to do it?”

“I know, I know.” Erin followed her friend through the beautifully decorated living room, which lay in shadow because no lights had been turned on. Julie had appointed the area with touches of Victorian stuff to offset her preference for comfortable furniture, creating a perfect blend that remained true to the style of the home without making it too fussy. “I’m still reeling, Jules. I’ve barely gotten my mind wrapped around it. And, oh, God, my heart just breaks for Wyatt.”

As Julie entered the kitchen ahead of Erin, she pivoted on one bare foot to gape at her. “Your heart breaks for Wyatt? What about the poor woman?”

“Her, too,” Erin said. “I’m sorry for her, too. Oh, Julie. It’s so awful.”

Julie swept the drape of blue hair away from her face. “Okay. I thought about making herbal tea, but ‘awful’ calls for wine. White or red? Since you’re the one upset, I’ll let you pick.”

Aware of Julie’s preference, Erin said, “White will be perfect.”

Julie went to her fridge, where she always had a bottle chilling. She kept reds in a rack on the counter. “White it is.”

Erin went to sit at the round table Julie had found at a garage sale and refinished in white to go with her kitchen cabinets and countertops. She’d accented the room with touches of forest green, and once again, Erin wished she had the same knack for decorating.

Julie came to the table with two glasses of wine, one of which she passed to Erin before she sat across from her. “Okay. The first order of business is for you to calm down, so take a couple of big gulps before you tell me anything. Maybe then you can share what you just learned without making me hate Wyatt Fitzgerald’s guts.”

Erin took a sip of wine and followed it with a deep, calming breath. “You won’t hate him when you hear the story. The poor guy. It’s awful, Jules, but he really didn’t mean to do it.”

Julie followed her own advice and took two big gulps of wine. “Okay, if you say so, I believe you, but it’s kind of hard to envision.” She snapped her fingers. “I’ve got it. He was just walking around with a hard-on, the woman just happened to be naked and bent over, and he ran into her from behind.”