He cleared his throat, and when he spoke again, his voice was husky. “That, too.”
By the time she ended the call, she was flushed from head to toe and counting down the hours until their date the following evening.
“Have you heard from Hope?” Grace asked Joy the minute her friend took a seat across from her at the Bird’s Eye Bakery. “I called a few times over the last couple of days, but she hasn’t called back.”
“I talked to her for a few minutes this morning,” Joy said as she picked up the menu and buried her face in it. “She said she’s slammed with back-to-back events this week. You know how summers are. Beach weddings, bachelorette parties, baby showers, etc.”
Grace frowned. “Is there a reason you’re hiding behind the menu? It’s been the same one for about ten years. I can’t imagine you don’t already know every item on it.”
Joy let the menu drop onto the table. “Fine. She called last night and vented about you not telling her Lucas was in town.”
“I was afraid of that.” Grace propped her elbows on the table and buried her face in her hands. “I told Lucas she’d be upset with me. And damn him, he’s the reason I threw my back out. If I hadn’t been trying to hide from Hope this never would’ve happened.”
Joy raised one eyebrow. “You were hiding from Hope?”
“Yes. No.” Grace shook her head. “That was the day I took Lucas house hunting. We were going to grab something to eat at Crabby’s and then call it a night. But then Hope showed up, startling me, and I moved too fast in the wrong direction. And well, you know the rest.”
“Serves you right.” The words weren’t said with any heat, and Joy cracked a smile, indicating she was only teasing.
“You know I only did that because he asked me to. I think he wanted to find the right time to talk to her or something.” Grace straightened up and stretched her back. It was still a little sore, but she was at least mobile. It had occurred to her that, considering how stiff she’d been the night before, it was possible she’d willed her backache away just like she’d wished those hexes on Shondra and Nina. Because the goddess knew she’d spent an obscene amount of time wishing she’d been well enough that Owen hadn’t left before they’d gotten to the good stuff.
“What are you thinking about?” Joy asked, her tone full of suspicion.
“My date last night,” Grace said, knowing her cheeks were already flashing pink. “Owen brought me dinner, and things got a little heated.”
“Oh, really.” Joy’s eyes glittered with interest as she leaned in, clearly ready for all the sordid details.
“Don’t look at me like that. Nothing happened,” Grace insisted. “Or nothing scandalous anyway,” she added when Joy’s eyebrows rose. “We just made out, and then he helped me get into bed.”
“Oh. He ‘helped’ you, did he?” She used air quotes to emphasize the word helped.
Grace rolled her eyes. “Please. I could barely move. That’s not exactly sexy. He really did just tuck me in, and then he cleaned up my kitchen before he left.”
Joy clasped her hand over her heart as she sucked in a short breath. “He cleaned. Are you serious?”
“Yes,” Grace laughed.
“Guh. Marry him,” Joy said with a sigh.
“Um, maybe I should date him for a bit first, don’t you think?”
“Nope. He cleans. Snatch him up before word gets out. Put a ring on it. Sign the contract. Give him the potion. Do whatever it takes. Do you know the last time Paul cleaned?”
Grace shuddered at the potion suggestion and made a note to never wish for a proposal of any kind. Not only did she have zero desire to get married again, she definitely didn’t want anyone proposing if it wasn’t of their own free will. “No. When?”
“I’m gonna say 1993, right about the time we moved in together. I think he cleaned the bathroom when I had morning sickness.” She wrinkled her nose. “I should’ve known I was doomed when he didn’t wipe the base of the toilet down.”
“Gross.” Grace reached across the table and squeezed her friend’s hand. “Are you okay? I know things with Paul have been a little tense.”
“Eh. It’s fine, I guess. No better, no worse. He’s not cheating on me. That’s something, right?”
Grace just felt sad for her friend. There was a giant chasm between not cheating and feeling loved and appreciated by your partner.