“Where are the upcoming races? This weekend is out. We have midterms to grade.”
Ty needed to pause and think about it, which he found odd, because usually the schedule was seared into his brain, but Imogen was such a nice distraction. “Uh, Texas, Phoenix, Miami. Why don’t you come to Texas? And hell, why don’t you invite Tammy and Suzanne to come with you? I’m guessing Tammy would love to see Elec driving, and then you all can hang out when we’re busy.”
“Yeah, that would be fun. But Tamara has the kids.”
“She can bring them with her. They’re used to being around the track. Hunter is my godchild, you know, and I haven’t seen her in a while. It would be nice to see the kids.” Ty did like hanging out and playing with Tammy’s kids. There was something about the way kids just bounced around and said whatever they were thinking that always appealed to him.
“Okay, I’ll ask her. That way we can fly down on Friday night and it won’t conflict with school for the kids or for Tamara and I.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Ty ran his fingers over her thigh. “And if Tammy can’t make it, you’ll still come?”
“Yes, I’ll still come.” Imogen wrapped her arms around his neck. “I will definitely come.”
Ty caught the change in her voice. “Are we talking about next week or are we talking about now?”
“Both,” she said with a sly smile.
“Perfect answer.”
Screw the fire. Ty stood up with Imogen in his arms, amused at the squeal of surprise she gave.
They were going back to the sleeping bag.
SUZANNE stared at Imogen across the table at their favorite Mexican restaurant, suddenly envying the bliss on her friend’s face. It had been a long time since Suzanne had felt that kind of moony-eyed happiness. “So I take it you had fun camping?”
Imogen sighed, her cheeks pink, eyes glassy. “Yes,” she said, and burst out with a short laugh. “I really, really did. We went fishing and swimming and hiking. We had lots of great sex, and, Suz, he quoted Shakespeare for me.”
Pausing with her margarita to her mouth, Suzanne felt her eyebrows head for the ceiling. “Ty quoted Shakespeare? Are you shitting me?” In all the years she’d known him, Suzanne had never once seen Ty with a book, let alone something like the Bard.
“I’m serious.” Imogen pushed her glasses up on her nose and leaned onto her palm at the table, like she was too boneless to hold herself up. “Oh, it’s so dangerous, but I do like him.”
The old green-eyed monster rose up in Suzanne again, irritating the shit out of her. She was happy for Imogen, even if she hadn’t figured Ty would be the type of guy to rev her engine. But it was clearly working for both of them, and if Suzanne had learned anything, it was that you couldn’t find any rhyme or reason for attraction. Look at the fact that she herself still couldn’t shake the weak-in-the-knees feeling whenever she saw Ryder and they’d been divorced for damn near two years. Not to mention he almost always pissed her off.
But there it was, and she was stuck with it, and it was really lowering to think that she could be enviousness of Imogen’s happiness. The girl had been far too serious when Suzanne had met her, and if the state of her jacked-up ponytail at the moment was any indication, Ty had loosened her screws up nicely.
“That’s fantastic, honey. I’m glad you’re having fun and that you didn’t get mauled by a bear.”
Imogen laughed. “That is probably a plus. So next weekend I’m going to fly to Texas for the race. Ty says the next few weeks decide the championship. Do you want to go? Tamara said she was in, and she’s bringing the kids.”
Suzanne took a sip of her drink, and set it back down. “I don’t think so, but thanks.”
Imogen’s face fell. “Why not? Do you already have plans?”
“Sort of. But even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t go. You’re going to be staying with Ty, and Tammy and the kids will be in Elec’s coach. That leaves me getting a hotel room by myself while the two of you are getting bounced. If I want to sleep alone, I can do that at home and I won’t have to foot the bill for a room.”
Nor did she even want to consider how long it had been since she’d had sex.
But Imogen looked downright upset at her honesty, and Suzanne felt like shit. “I’m sorry, that sounded bitchy as hell. I didn’t mean it like that, Imogen. I’m really happy for you that you and Ty are hitting it off, but I just don’t want to be a third wheel.”
“No, I’m sorry, I didn’t think about it from your perspective. I guess I was picturing you and Tamara and I spending some girl time together during the day.”
“And that would be fun, it really would. I love hanging with my girls. But this way you all can go and have a romantic weekend and I’ll take care of some things at home.”
“Like what?” Imogen asked.
Suzanne knew Imogen was just innately curious, and normally she didn’t mind it, but tonight she was feeling a little sorry for herself. She didn’t really want to talk about it, but she knew Imogen would keep asking. “Well, you know how I used to be a wedding planner? I’m going back into the business, and I’m meeting with a potential client this weekend. Next weekend I’ll be scouting out venues and DJs and getting myself familiar with the local wedding scene again.”
“Wow. What prompted this? I thought you said you didn’t really care for being a wedding planner because you always wanted to do it your way instead of the client’s way.”
“I did. I do.” Suzanne shredded her cocktail napkin. “It’s very hard to sit there and listen to some bride say she wants an elegant reception with naked monkeys as a theme. But it’s sort of the only skill I have.”
“But what about your board work on the children’s charity? And your cakes?”
“I might have to scale back on the board, but I’ll squeeze my cakes in still. I’m not giving that up.” That was her pride and her passion, baking birthday cakes for terminally ill children who might not live to see their next birthdays. The more elaborate the cake, the better, and she loved seeing their eyes light up in delight.
Imogen was staring at her with those intelligent eyes, and it unnerved Suzanne. “What?” she asked, a little defensively.
“Why are you going back to something you don’t enjoy at the sacrifice of what you love?” Imogen asked softly.