Sparks - Wendy Higgins Page 0,88

I opened myself to their love.

“I can’t believe she showed up here looking like that,” Holly said. “I mean, who dresses like that on a normal day, am I right?”

“Yeah,” Rhea said. “Totally. She looks…pfft.”

“And all these fools done fell over their dicks trying to let her in the crew room,” Willa said, crossing her arms.

“I really don’t know what Silas sees…” Syd started, but stopped when she saw me shaking my head.

“Guys, don’t. She’s gorgeous.”

They all seemed to exhale and relax.

“Oh, thank God,” Holly whispered. “’Cause, just wow.” Rhea nodded.

“She is fire!” Syd said. Rhea nodded.

“I mean,” Willa said, “if I had a body like that I’d wear tiny dresses every day.” Rhea nodded.

“Okay.” I blew out a breath. “That’s enough.”

“Yeah enough, you guys.” Rhea’s nods turned to a disapproving shake of her head. “But let’s not assume the worst just because his hot-as-shit wife showed up and they look like a Telemundo couple. Remember, she hurt him.”

“They’re totally getting back together,” I told them, and I believed that to my core. “A surprise visit? Looking like that? And after what I said to him last night he’s definitely not thinking about me anymore.”

“Okay, we need to hear everything that happened last night.” Holly took my hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

I half expected to see Silas and Jacquie sitting at the café or one of the airport bars as we passed, but that was a dumb thought. He probably had her back at his new apartment by now, up against the wall.

Nope, nope, nope. I could not think about that. Silas was just my friend. The sex was a fluke, and it’s good that the other stuff was nipped in the bud before it got really out of hand. But still…it hurt. Everything hurt.

I gave Holly my keys to drive and I sat in the passenger seat, turned so that I could see them. Syd held the Oh Shit handle and shouted, “Baby Jesus!” now and then as I told them every detail. We were pulling up at the apartment when I finished the part about Shawn liking my social media pictures.

“Wait.” Syd yanked her bag up over the curb. “So, he wasn’t trying to get back with you? What the fuck?”

“No!” I let us inside and moved aside, holding the door open. “Who does that?”

“He’s trying to make sure you’re still thinking about him,” Rhea said. “Otherwise he could have just looked but not actually sent a like.”

“Yeah, but why?” I asked. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Because he fell for you as hard as you fell for him,” Holly said. “And he misses you.”

“I’d be careful if I was you.” Willa smacked her lips. “He might be tryna keep you in the picture so he can have someone to stroke his ego when his new wife’s being a bitch.” That was definitely a possibility, and if it was the case, whether he cared about me or not, it would be wrong. I wouldn’t be the other woman anymore in any capacity. Never again.

“I told him not to contact me again unless he’s single.”

“Good,” they all said.

“And now we’re gonna need you to block his ass,” Willa said. My insides tightened.

We got into the apartment and dropped our bags, and everyone looked at me expectantly.

“Right now?” I asked. Each of them nodded. They were right. He didn’t need access to be able to see what I was doing and to interfere by dropping a like when he needed attention.

I inhaled and exhaled, then pulled my phone up. They all leaned in and watched as I accessed Shawn’s new account, went to the Settings, and selected Block. My heart gave two big pounds, but then a sense of relief hit me.

“That’s right,” Rhea said gently. “Take away some of his power over you.” She rubbed between my shoulders.

“Thanks,” I whispered, garnering strength from their friendship. I tried to see Shawn though their eyes. For me, I saw a man who truly did care for me but was in a tight spot. A good man. But my friends saw a man in a position to hurt me. A man not being careful with my heart. A man ultimately looking out for his own self whether he realized it or not.

We all sat around the room on the couch, chairs, and beanbag. Cheryl breezed out from the bedroom wearing a loose, flowery kimono, and sat on a floor cushion.

“And then there’s the date with Silas. He flew me to Philadelphia on