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I picked up one of the glasses and tipped my head back, swallowing the contents in one gulp before slamming the glass back on the table. Emily and Cindy cheered, while Andrea grabbed a glass of her own and downed another drink. Ari just laughed as she sipped her mocktail.

“Here’s to regaining my freedom.” Andrea’s eyes were bright and glassy, and her smile seemed forced. Her divorce had been a long time coming, but it was never easy.

“Want to talk about it?” I shouted over the first karaoke singer, a young woman butchering Shania’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”

“What is there to say? After fifteen years of him being bitter that not only would I not give up my business, but that it brought in more money than his job, he became the ultimate cliché. He ‘fell in love’ with his much younger receptionist, and they’re moving to Calgary to open a new dental practice.” Andrea raked her hand through her hair, making the short spikes stand on end.

“You know what? I’m glad. At least now I won’t have to smell all the nasty dental supplies he stored in our basement. I can focus on the fabric shop, push the custom design side of things. I’ve got a big following on social media, and custom jobs are coming in faster than I can fill them. Trying to keep Derek happy was holding me back. Screw him.”

Derek had been in high school with me, Andrea, and Chad back in the day. I hadn’t liked him much then, although he and Andrea hadn’t started dating until after he’d come back from dental school. He’d always seemed full of himself, but he’d played ball with Chad, so he was always around. I’d been so head over heels with Chad that ignoring Derek’s being a douche had been easy. I was sorry that Andrea was hurting, but I’d been in her shoes, and she would come out of this stronger than ever.

“Maybe we should have requested ‘Single Ladies’ by Beyoncé and done it as a group,” Ari said with a laugh.

“I don’t think so,” Emily said in a singsong voice. “I’m not so sure all of us are single anymore. One of us has a secret. Spill it, Jane.”

I almost choked on my drink as all four women turned to face me, laser focused on my response. What did Emily know? How did she find out? Carter and I had been so careful, both to protect my kids and his job. I was sure I could trust these women, but I wouldn’t share without talking to Carter first. I was the one who had insisted on keeping us a secret. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Please tell me you and Chad aren’t hooking up again. I know he moved into your place; the whole town knows that. You have more sense than to believe he’s changed, right?” Andrea’s plea was so earnest it was almost comical.

I gave her a withering glare that I then turned on the other women. “Not a chance. That man lost me the minute I found out he was cheating. Add the public humiliation on top of that, and there is no way I’ll ever forgive him. He showed his true colours. He’ll never change.”

Emily was shaking her head as I spoke, her blonde hair swaying with each move, reflecting the colours of the strobe lights. “Not Chad. I’d lock her in the bakery and talk some sense into her if she was even thinking of getting back with that waste of skin. No, I think Jane has a secret, and I want to know who he is.”

I relaxed at that statement. Emily was guessing, nothing more. She didn’t know about Carter, not for sure.

“Who do you think it is?” Cindy asked, eyes wide.

“What’s your proof?” Andrea wanted to know.

I stayed silent, hoping that whatever Emily thought she knew, I could easily deny. If not, I might have to come up with something creative before the truth came out. There were so many reasons I needed to keep this secret.

Emily leaned forward to prevent having to shout over the karaoke in the background. “One: She’s smiling a lot more. A lot. Not just about the bakery doing well, this is a truly happy smile.”

“Two: She’s changed her appearance. She’s wearing more makeup, she’s taken the time to get her nails done, she wears her hair down more often. Maybe that’s because we landed the Fliers contract, but I think it’s a guy.”

“Three: She’s always checking her phone, then smiling if there’s a new message, and I’ve seen her sitting in her truck behind the bakery after we close, talking to someone . . .”

My three traitorous friends were hanging on Emily’s every word, nodding along with her logic. I had to admit, I hadn’t realized that a few of the things I’d done for myself were so noticeable. I’d wanted to look good for Carter, and the small changes made me feel good about myself. But now I was missing Carter, and girls’ night was supposed to help me forget he was on the road.

“I’m out here on a weeknight with you guys, aren’t I? Would I do that if I had some secret man I could be spending time with instead? Ethan’s at a tournament, and Brooke is working overnight at the hospital, which would be the perfect time to sneak off with someone. And I didn’t want to spend one single minute alone in that house with Chad. I can’t get him out of there soon enough.”

Maybe my complaint about Chad would distract them and get them to think about something other than my love life. If I hadn’t insisted on keeping our relationship a secret, I’d be fine telling Emily and my other friends about Carter. Hell, I’d probably be bragging just a little. I was still surprised that Carter wanted to be with me, considering our age difference and the fact that most ballplayers preferred women who looked like supermodels.

“Ah-ah-ah, no dodging the subject,” Emily chided. “You’ve got a new man in your life. I’m pretty sure it’s someone associated with the Fliers. Your life revolves around your kids, the bakery, and baseball, so that’s the only logical explanation.”

I reached for one of the glasses of water that we’d ordered along with our shots and took a long drink, using the time to compose myself. Emily was smart, so I should have known she would figure this out. I was shocked she hadn’t realized that it was Carter, but at least for now that secret was safe. I set the empty glass down and licked my lips, trying to find the words necessary to deny everything when the DJ saved me by calling my name. Thank God for perfect timing.

“I’m up. I promise to be a tough act to follow.” I started for the stage.

After a quick consult with the DJ, I took the mic. Breathe, I reminded myself. You love this song, and there’s no one here to see you sing it.

Inhale, one two, exhale, one two. I nodded at the DJ and held the mic up. “All aboarrrrrd!”

Chapter 26

Carter

I walked into the bar and saw Jane on the stage screaming the opening words to “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osborne. She was tipsy. Not falling-down I-won’t-remember-this-tomorrow drunk, but she had definitely drunk too much to drive home, and was probably at the point where bad decisions sounded like great ideas.