Fall by Winter - Cara Dee Page 0,6

license, credit card, and some cash into one pocket and my lipstick and eyeliner in the other pocket, I was ready for an evening on the dance floor with my girlfriend. I didn’t like having a purse to worry about when there was dancing involved.

Aurora handed me my phone.

It went into my coat. Later, I’d put it in my bra.

“I love you. Have fun with Jess.” I kissed her cheek, careful not to get lipstick on her. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

She quirked a brow, and I ignored the smartass reply that was no doubt on its way.

Christ, Halloween decorations everywhere.

I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to summer, damn it.

Sharon and I found a booth once we’d gotten our first round, and the music came from speakers for now. A cover band would get on the stage in an hour or so and fill the establishment with country rock.

We’d found this club last year, and though I wasn’t the biggest fan of country, I liked that the place catered to people our age.

“Big crowd for being so early,” Sharon noted, eyeing the dance floor. “How many divorce lawyers do you think these people have made rich?”

I laughed and took a sip of my drink. “At least I haven’t contributed to that.”

It was something I’d never stop being grateful for. Every time Aurora or Brady announced that the parents of a friend of theirs were getting divorced, I thanked my lucky stars William and I remained friends. We hadn’t needed any lawyers between us.

These past two years had shown us what we were meant to be for each other. Friends and parents to our hellions.

“There’s time, honey.” Sharon patted my hand. “I have a good feeling about your husband number four, though. I think he’ll be a keeper.”

I spluttered. “Thanks, bitch.”

She grinned and flipped her blond tresses over her shoulder.

“No, but seriously, when are you getting Tinder?” she pressed.

Jesus, not this again. “Never. What would I even say in the profile? Forty-two years old, divorced after twenty years of marriage. And in the last ten, I was my husband’s caregiver as he battled depression, after which he left me when his childhood love returned to town, and now they’re riding off into the sunset together.”

I hoped that didn’t sound bitter. I didn’t have an ounce of bitterness in me; it was just complicated.

“That depends,” Sharon said. “Are you writing the dating profile for them or yourself?”

I frowned.

Her gaze softened, and she patted my hand on the table. “You’re always talking about how much baggage you have, Lissa, and I just don’t see it. William isn’t part of your personal life that way anymore. He’s your ex-husband. And look out at that dance floor. The men are a bunch of Williams, and the women have a William stashed somewhere.”

“I hope for their sake not all of them are exactly like William.” I widened my eyes.

Sharon laughed.

I knew she was right, though. It was my hang-up. I was the one who included William in my complicated mess. In a dating profile, I wasn’t supposed to mention him at all. He was just the ex. Except, he wasn’t.

My husband leaving me for another man had knocked me down quite a bit, even though I actually preferred it having played out that way today. There would be no other woman to compete with for my children’s affection. Maybe it was catty to think that way, but only one woman was allowed to screw up my kids, and it was me.

“I’ll be honest,” I said, hesitating. Hesitating because I hadn’t been this forthcoming about my feelings for William to anyone. “I’m sort of in love with the friendship he and I have established. It’s the first time in over a decade we can love each other in a healthy way. I’m not even attracted to him anymore, but I adore how we are handling this with the children. And…it’s made me protective. After hurting each other for so many years, we can finally heal, and I don’t want to lose that.”

“Who says you have to, hon?” Sharon asked curiously. “For the record, I understand you. I knew him when he was happy, and I knew him when he wasn’t. I saw what you and your family went through.” Plus, I’d confided in her a lot over the years. “I think it’s amazing that you’ve found your way with William—and I’m certain it’s made everything easier for Brady and Aurora—but there are men out there who