The Love Handles Club (Love in the City Short) by Liv Morris Read Free Book Online

yourselves. How about we do lunch tomorrow, Kelly?”
    “Sure,” Kelly replied. “I’d love to.”
    “Let’s meet at Cafe Pacific in Highland Park Village about noon.”
    “Sounds great. I love that place and haven’t been there in years.”
    Kelly stopped and scanned the table, stopping at each one of the guys sitting there. I think we could all tell that she had something more to say.
    “Thanks for all your support tonight. I was super nervous about everyone's reaction to seeing me, especially being in this condition.” She looked down at her stomach but kept her smile intact.
    “I’m so glad you came tonight, Kelly. You can count on us too. No way we’ll let you go through this alone.”  Dave smiled reassuringly at her.
    She placed her hand on Dave’s shoulder and bent down to kiss his cheek, which instantly turned red. Who knew old Dave could blush? I had to laugh.
    “You’ re so sweet,” Kelly said to Dave as she teasingly ruffled her hands through his hair. I think having her here was good for everyone, not just her.
    After another round of goodbyes, we were finally heading to the door. My hand stayed placed on the small of her back the entire walk to the entrance. It was hard to believe how this day had turned around for me. I woke up with divorce papers on my mind, and now I felt the body heat against my palm of the only woman I ’d ever truly loved. I couldn’t imagine a better ending to a this day and it wasn’t even over yet.

Chapter 6: Kelly’s Turn
     
     
     
    Nearly eight weeks had passed since I saw Bradley at my first Love Handles ga thering. That night was nerve racking, crazy and wonderful all mixed into one. In my mind, I still can see his face as he walked through the doors of the pub. He took my breath away then and still does now.
    We’d left the pub early and went back to his house, a lovely home in Highland Park, not far from where he’d grown up. I knew that he’d done well for himself; Tina had told me a few bits and pieces over the years, nothing specific, though. I’d never asked questions either, as I didn’t want to hear about him being happy with someone else. But I had no idea what he’d been doing to achieve the kind of wealth that a home like his would cost. It was phenomenal. Over the top beautiful. And big, Texas-sized big.
    However, in all of its beauty the house seemed lonely to me. A big mansion with only him wandering around in it. The thought of this made me sad. All this achievement on his part, but no one to share it with. Perhaps that was why he wanted to bring me bac k to his house. He’d been alone for too long and seemed to enjoy having me there with him. He grilled up some delicious steaks and never let my drink get even half-empty. He was so attentive and caring. The sweet young boy I’d known had become a beautiful grown man. Thankfully, the sweet in him had never left or changed, though. He was the same Bradley that I remembered and adored.
    After dinner, we sat silently on his patio by the pool, gazing off at the horizon’s last fading rays of light. He gradually started to open up to me about his life as the last of the sun disappeared and twilight’s darkness wrapped around us. Perhaps it shielded us from seeing each other’s faces, protecting us as we spoke of our hurts and disappointments. Our dark days stayed there in the dark.
    His failed marriage was the first topic he brought up. How it was doomed from the start. He’d met his now ex-wife in college. Her father owned a large defense contracting company in Dallas and needed a male heir to take over his company when he retired. His father-in-law felt his daughter wouldn’t have been taken seriously in the male-dominated defense industry, but he’d thought Bradley had been a perfect fit, a natural born leader and sharp as a tack.
    For Bradle y it was a twofer, a wife and a company. For a young man getting out of school without a job secured, he caved and grabbed the carrot dangling