Free What the Lightning Sees: Part Two by Louise Bay Page A

trustworthy. A nice, normal girl as my granny would say,” Mark said, smiling at me.
    “I’m going to take that as a compliment.” I laughed.
    “You should. My granny didn’t say it to a lot of people. She was a cantankerous old biddy. Even I was scared of her. I should say you look beautiful.” Mark’s rambling was rather endearing. He was nervous and that made me more confident, as though it was my responsibility to put him at ease.
    “It’s not obligatory,” I replied, smiling at him. He was as bad at this dating thing as I was but the compliment felt genuine and I accepted it as such.
    “I’m really not good at this, am I?”
    I laughed again. “You’re doing fine. I feel great after all these compliments, so you’re doing better than you think.”
    “Yes, it’s all part of my master plan to win you over,” he said, a gleam in his eye.
    I relaxed and sat back in my chair. Mark was going to be good company.

 
    Jake
    Beth was curled up on the sofa when I got in from dropping off Haven. “I need to tell you something,” I said to her. I had hoped that I wouldn’t have to bring this up, but I was going to meet Romano for a second time on Saturday. If Beth ever found out that I’d knowingly met with him, and I hadn’t told her, she’d never forgive me.
    “Did you elope?” Beth asked.
    God, I really didn’t want to destroy her good mood. “Nope.”
    “Kiss her again?”
    “Nope. I left her on a date with another man and came home as my penis shriveled up and fell off.”
    “That’s a delightful image.”
    “Well, you asked.” My phone rang and I glanced at the screen. Millie. Why was my ex calling? I pressed cancel and turned back to Beth. “I’ve only got Saturday and then there will be no reason for me to see her again. I’m in California next week and unless I think of something by then, I guess we’ll go our separate ways.” I slumped on the sofa, grabbing the tub of ice cream from her and digging out a spoonful for myself.
    “Hey, you’re interrupting my threesome with Ben and Jerry.”
    “You’re gross,” I said, shoving the tub back at her.
    “So, have you decided to fight for her?” Beth asked.
    “I have. I’m just not sure I’ll win. I’m not quite sure what to do.” My stomach churned at the thought of not seeing Haven again. I was running out of time and I didn’t have a plan.
    “So what did you have to tell me, my penis-less brother?” Beth pulled me back into the moment.
    “I don’t want you to get upset,” I said and then instantly felt like an idiot.
    “Well, problem solved, because if you tell me you don’t want to get me upset then that’s that—I won’t,” Beth said around a mouthful of ice cream.
    “Sarcasm isn’t your thing,” I said as I grinned at her.
    “Oh yes it is. It’s exactly my thing. Come on, get it off your chest.”
    I took a deep breath. “Well, you know Haven’s been dating these guys.”
    “Yes, I kinda gathered from your hideously bad moods and the fact that you’ve told me so like a million times. What about it?”
    “Well, the second guy was someone we both know.”
    Beth paled instantly and put the ice cream on the coffee table.
    “Romano,” I said.
    She looked at me. “Shit.”
    “Fuck. I’m sorry. I never wanted to hear his name again. I just didn’t want to keep it from you.” If I could have scooped out her pain and taken it on myself, I would have. I hated seeing her upset; it reminded me about how bad things had been for her and how I could do nothing about it. Romano and losing the baby had been a tipping point for Beth. She’d spiraled so far down I wondered if she’d ever be my sister again.
    “I think I should call my sponsor,” was all she said.
    I handed her the phone. “Do you want to talk about it?”
    “I never want to go back to that place again,” she said quietly.
    “I know. You’re stronger now. What can I do?” I asked her.
    “You’re right. I am, and you can’t do anything.