After the Climb (River Rain #1) - Kristen Ashley Page 0,16

you do that, Corey?” I whispered to my thighs, beginning to rock in the bed. “How could you do that to Bowie?”

Yes, rocking, rocking deep.

“To me?”

At that, the sobs came.

And such was my heartache, much like when I lost Duncan…

No, exactly like when I lost Duncan, and wouldn’t Corey be so proud he’d accomplished this?

The tears never consciously abated.

Because it took hours.

And I cried myself to sleep.

Chapter Four

The Breakfast

Duncan

“Holy shit, my man.”

Duncan was curled over his coffee at their table at Zeke’s, his eyes aimed to the java, his hand rubbing the back of his neck.

He’d just told Harv the story.

All of it.

From meeting Corey when they were six. To throwing the frog at Genny when he was ten. To slowly falling in love with her and finally doing something about it when he was seventeen. To cutting her loose because he was such a loser when he was eighteen and hooking up again when he was twenty-four because he’d turned into an asshole.

And last, what had happened yesterday, from her showing like she’d showed, what had come of that, to her daughter’s surprise visit and even bigger surprise message.

And that was Harvey’s response.

Which didn’t touch the half of it.

“And now the woman’s daughter wants you to make a play for her mom?” Harvey continued.

Duncan dropped his hand, lifted his head, sat back in his chair and looked at his friend.

He’d met Harvey twenty years ago when Duncan had moved to Prescott. They were friends first, and Duncan recruited him later.

Now Harv was COO of River Rain.

Big guy. Burly. Lots of hair everywhere. So much it covered his arms and ran up to the base of his neck, thick and now graying.

Also a good guy. Loved his wife. Doted on his girls. Doted on Duncan’s boys. And even after the divorce, which had gotten messy before he and Dora (and he was not being a dick in saying especially Dora) got their shit together, Harvey doted on Dora.

Duncan definitely got Harv and his wife Beth in the divorce.

But functions where there was necessary mingling weren’t uncomfortable anymore.

And that had a lot to do with Harvey.

“She doesn’t want it, man. She ordered me to do it.”

Harvey’s face contorted with trying to beat back his smile.

“I’m not sure I’m feelin’ a lot of humor in this situation,” Duncan pointed out.

Harvey got serious. “I can imagine, Bowie. I still can’t believe Corey Szabo did that shit to you guys. I can’t even believe you were that tight with Corey Szabo. I mean, you mentioned you grew up with him and used to be friends, but Jesus. However, suffice it to say, I’m pretty stuck on the fact your ex-girlfriend is Imogen Swan. Something, I’ll note, you never mentioned.”

Duncan wrapped his fingers around his coffee and took a sip before saying, “It wasn’t something I wanted to talk about.”

“I get that. And I’d heard her and Szabo were tight since childhood, so I shoulda put it together but, Jesus again.”

Mm-hmm.

Jesus.

Harvey kept talking.

“You know, I mean, Beth’s list includes Antonio Banderas, Javier Bardem, Benicio Del Toro, and she’s got two more I’ve blocked out, but I think you can get from that she’s got a type, and it is not me.”

Duncan couldn’t stop his lips from twitching.

“But full disclosure,” Harv went on, “I got a type too. My list includes Cate Blanchette, Anna Torv, Robin Wright, but I do not need to go on because I’ll point out something you already know, they all look like Beth.”

Duncan wasn’t feeling amused anymore.

And he told his friend why.

“And Genny,” he grunted.

“She’s the top of my list, bud,” Harvey confirmed.

His list.

Duncan knew what he was talking about.

The list of fake freebies you could fuck even if you were committed to another person.

“Christ, Harv, why would you tell me that?”

“Because you should know, straight up, since you’re gonna go for it, that that’s the case before Beth blabs it. Which she will. But I’m the best friend who isn’t a horse’s ass. Who’d never go there. And no offense to you and my deep abiding love for you, but my love is deeper and more abiding for my wife, so that’s a non-starter.”

“This isn’t funny, Harvey.”

Harv ignored him. “And just to say, I’m still reeling that you call Imogen Swan ‘Genny.’ Though, more importantly, when I meet her, if I act like a fool, just ignore me. I’ll eventually get over it. And I figure that’ll happen around the time we’re fully gray and our RVs are parked beside