When four o’clock rolled around, Kelly slipped out the backdoor, relieved and disappointed at the same time that she didn’t see Lucy as she exited.

Chapter 13

Home alone, Kelly almost drove herself insane with thoughts of Lucy. She had it bad for someone she had no right to be crushing on.

Lucy lived with Kelly’s ex-girlfriend, Paula, for goodness sake, and Kelly still didn’t know if Lucy was even into women. The two times she’d hinted for information, Lucy had turned the question back on Kelly.

And if that wasn’t enough, there was the bigger issue Kelly couldn’t ignore. Was Lucy the mysterious woman who’d haunted Kelly’s dreams since the night of Paula’s party, and, if so, what the hell was she supposed to do about it?

The second Nicole stepped foot inside at seven, Kelly leapt to her feet and gave her a quick hug. “Thank goodness you’re home. Where have you been?”

Giggling, Nicole kissed her on the cheek. “Love you too.”

A hint of alcohol lingered on Nicole’s breath.

“I’ve been at Fitzherbert Park. You know Steve plays hockey on Tuesday nights.” Nicole narrowed her eyes. “Why, what’s going on?”

Caught up in her own misery, that detail had totally slipped Kelly’s mind. Come to think of it, Nicole often stayed at Steve’s on a Tuesday night, so she was damn lucky Nicole was standing before her, eyeing Kelly curiously.

Taking a minute to let her flatmate dump her handbag and kick off her shoes, Kelly headed for the kitchen. “What are you doing home? Have you had dinner?”

After hanging up her car keys, Nicole followed Kelly to the fridge and nudged her aside. “Yep, I had some pizza.” She yanked open the door and pulled out a bottle of wine.

“We all went back to Gary’s after the game. I got stuck with his airhead girlfriend. She talks like, you know, like one hundred miles an hour, like, oh my God, like, did you see the shot Gary took? Like, I nearly peed my pants. Like, it was way cool…”

Nicole stuck a finger in her mouth and gagged.

Her own dramas temporarily on-hold, Kelly chuckled. “Are you serious?”

“Deadly.” Nicole held up the bottle and Kelly nodded. “I downed half a glass of wine, then used the excuse I had to drive to get the hell out of there.”

Kelly took the glass Nicole handed her and they walked side by side back into the living room.

“What about Steve?” Kelly asked.

Nicole took her place on the couch and Kelly slumped into her chair.

“He’ll find his own way home, or here. He’s a big boy. As you know.” Nicole smirked.

“Ugh, don’t remind me. I didn’t look, honest.” Even if she had, Kelly had no way of knowing if he measured up to other guys his age.