Free Dry as Rain by Gina Holmes Page B

“Fine. Let’s just drop it. Spill what’s up with you and blondie.”
    Staring at the back side of his inspection sticker, I said nothing.
    Larry shook his head. “You slept with her, didn’t you? I knew it.”
    I looked out the window, watching strip malls and fast-food joints blur by, as I fogged up the glass with my breath. I braced myself for the inevitable lecture that was sure to follow.
    â€œDoes Kyra know?” he finally asked.
    I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Man, she doesn’t even know we’re separated.”
    â€œWhat do you mean she doesn’t know? How does she not know?”
    The traffic light ahead changed from green to yellow. An old Ford Ranger sped up, catching the red light halfway through the intersection. Lucky for him no cops were around to cite him. Larry slowed to a stop and looked at me, waiting for an answer. “The concussion.”
    â€œYou’re kidding.”
    I frowned. “Do I look like I’m kidding?”
    When the light flashed green, Larry passed through the crossroad, then pulled into the Wendy’s parking lot. He turned off the engine and faced me. “Let me get this straight. Your wife not only doesn’t know you’ve been playing doctor with Danielle, she doesn’t even remember you two aren’t living in the same house?”
    Over his shoulder, I watched a silver-haired man open a car door and help his wife out. I wondered if the woman took him for granted the way Kyra had me. When our eyes met, I nodded, then focused on Larry. “That’s right.”
    With hands the size of a small continent, Larry rubbed his temple. “What are you going to do?”
    It was a fair question. One I wished I knew the answer to. “No idea. I was hoping you might have some advice.”
    â€œSeems to me I gave you advice a few weeks ago, not to move out of your house. Then I gave you advice to stop flirting with Danielle. And then just yesterday, I gave you yet—”
    I felt my blood pressure rise. “You know very well Kyra made me move out.”
    A dull look met me. “She make you go to bed with Danielle, too?”
    The condemnation of a friend cut deep, but not deeper than my own guilt. “I screwed up, okay? I don’t need an ‘I told you so.’”
    He pushed up his glasses. “What do you need?”
    The sun stabbed through the windshield. I laid my hand over my brow like a visor, shielding my eyes. “To figure out how to fix this mess.” I couldn’t remember the last time I’d asked anyone for help, and it made me feel weak and off balance, like trying to stand upright during an earthquake. Maybe I did have control issues. If I did, I figured they were probably the least of my problems.
    Larry laid one of his paws on my shoulder. “The truth shall set you free, my man.”
    I shrugged him off. “Oh, come on. Don’t start with the God crap. I need help, not saving.”
    Larry studied me. “Pretty sure you need both.”
    I rolled my eyes. If he only knew how obnoxious he sounded.
    It was getting warm with the windows up and the sun bearing down on us. Larry seemed to feel it just as I did. With a touch of a button our windows descended, letting in the smell of French fries. The vehicle was the only thing that cooled off.
    Larry took his glasses off and pinched the bridge of his nose. “At the risk of ruining our friendship, I don’t know how you can call yourself a follower of Christ and do what you have. I’m not saying you’re not, I’m just saying you may want to reevaluate your faith sometime. As far as Kyra goes, you need to tell her the truth. Since you asked, that’s my advice.”
    I sat there dumbfounded. Did the man who knew me as well as my own family just accuse me of not being a Christian? Kyra and I had been the ones to invite him to church the first time, for crying out loud. I felt my