Forbidden Serenade

Chapter Twenty

I hurried into my hotel room and ran straight for the bathroom to shower. The smell of Elijah and sex covered my skin. I was certain anyone I encountered would instantly know I had spent the night in the arms of my twenty-one-year-old lover.

"Look what the cat dragged in," Callie called from her bed in the room.

I froze like a teenager caught sneaking in after curfew. Sighing, my shoulders fell forward. "Hi."

Her eyebrows raised. "Is this another instance where I'm not supposed to ask questions?"

Dragging my feet, I regretfully trudged into the room. I plopped down on my bed beside hers. I looked up hopefully at my friend across from me. "If there was any way that is possible, then yes. I really, really don't want to talk about this."

She paused a long moment. I wasn't sure what decision she would render. Chewing her lip, she seemed to debate. "You're back in time for lunch. Everyone was asking at breakfast about you. I told them you were still sleeping."

A smile broke out on my lips as I hopped up and hugged my friend. "Thank you!"

"Yeah. Yeah." She hugged me back. "Keep this in mind for when I might have to bury a body."

I laughed at the ridiculousness of her comment. She may love crime podcasts, but she was one of the kindest-hearted people I knew. If I needed advice, she was my go-to.

But didn't I need it now?

Stepping back from her, I resumed my seat on my bed. Now that it wasn't being forced, I felt more inclined to share. To seek her council because she was far wiser than her years. "There is maybe something I need to talk to you about."

She inched forward to the edge of the bed. "Who are you sleeping with and why haven't I met him yet?"

Laughter rang from my lips, and it helped ease the tension from my shoulders. "I met someone but..."

Clapping her hands, I paused at her interruption. "Oh yeah! I'm so happy for you. You deserve this."

"Yeah," I drew out slowly. "The thing is, he's young. Like, a lot younger than me, so I'm not sure about it lasting or really being any kind of a relationship. Definitely not one I want my kids or James to know about. Or anyone, really. We just kind of started hooking up, which is not what I normally do." I laughed nervously as the words tumbled from my mouth. "I don't even know how or why it started. It just...happened. He's in a band, but he's only twenty-one but he's an old soul and doesn't seem like a twenty-one-year-old. I know it's wrong and it shouldn't be happening, but I really like him. He's different than anyone I've met and, for the first time in years, I get treated like a woman."

Callie sat staring at me with her jaw hanging open.

My hands shot over my face as my cheeks heated. "Oh my gosh! Say something! I can't stand the silence. Is it that bad?"

Callie stumbled over her words. "I mean...it's just...I guess...that was....wow." She paused, and I dared to peek through my fingers. "This is out of character for you. Angie maybe. But not you."

Dropping my hands to my lap, I sighed. "I know. And I never meant for this to happen. It just did, and I don't even know how or why. And now it's out of control and I can't stop it, but I don't think I really want to stop it, anyway." My head cocked to the side. "Does any of that make sense?"

Her lips tugged up. "Yeah, it does actually. I'm not a mom or wife, but I've seen all of you guys change when you get married and have kids. I'm not saying it's a negative thing, but your priorities shift. You focus on your kids and marriage. Like you should. But sometimes I feel you guys get lost in the shuffle and don't practice enough self-care."