That Ring: Chapter 29

“You were completely right yesterday,” Jennifer says to Jadyn.

I’m not really paying attention. I’m staring at the fireplace and thinking about how we spent most of last night lying in front of it—naked.

“I know,” Jadyn says with a grin. “And I’m sorry I sort of just left.”

“What are you two talking about?” Phillip asks, bringing me out of my reverie.

He and Jadyn got a sitter and came over tonight. We were all planning to go out to dinner but got quite a bit of snow today and decided to stay in. With Danny’s kids still at their mother’s house, it will be fun to just have a quiet night here.

“Lori,” Jennifer says as she sets the charcuterie board she prepared earlier on the kitchen island.

“What did she do now?” I ask, shaking my head.

“When she picked the kids up, she said some things about you,” Jennifer says, plucking a candied almond off the board and popping it into her mouth.

“That we’re still having an affair,” Jadyn says with a chuckle, but the laugh can’t hide the instant change in her demeanor, which tells me everything I need to know. That Jennifer asked her about it, and Jadyn told her in no uncertain terms how she felt about the question.

“You should have spoken to me about what Lori said,” I say to Jennifer.

She nods. “Yes, I know. And from now on, I will. I’ll give Lori credit though; she sure knows how to push people’s buttons.”

“No more talk about Lori,” Phillip says, raising his glass in the air. “To snowy nights by the fire.”

“I’ll drink to that,” I say, bumping my hip into Jennifer’s, reminding her how much fun we had doing exactly that last night.

“The kids will be back for Christmas Eve, right?” Jadyn asks. She’s sipping on a cranberry juice instead of the Moscow mules I made for the rest of us.

“Yes,” Jennifer replies. “It will be just me and Angel until then. Danny leaves for the Miami game tomorrow, so I’ll be wrapping presents and cooking for the next two days.”

“And watching my game,” I interject.

“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it,” she coos.