CHAPTER 80

CHAPTER 80

She really had to put a lid on her overactive imagination. Karla needed support. Not validation for her suspicions.

With a grimace, Ken rose, glancing down the table at Derrick.

“Can you run Karla home afterward?” he asked. “I don’t know how long this will take.”

Sorrow swamped Karla’s eyes. How could Ken not see how much he was hurting her? Could he really be that oblivious? Everyone else saw it. Even James studied him with a frown, his gaze swinging back and forth between him and Karla. There was concern in James’s eyes for her and irritation for Ken.

“Of course,” Derrick said, though he was frowning too. “Don’t worry. Sandra and I will see her home.”

“Thanks, man,” Ken said. Then he leaned down and brushed his lips over Karla’s forehead. And lightly caressed one cheek with his hand. “Don’t wait up for me, darlin’.”

Then he strode away leaving Karla staring down at her plate.

The silence after his departure was pronounced and awkward. When Karla did look up, there was humiliation in her eyes. And defeat.

James and Derrick exchanged quick frowns and Sandra stared at Karla with concern.

Knowing the attention needed to be focused on someone other than Karla, Sophia quickly scrambled for a conversation topic. Which was new to her, because she usually just sat back and observed or commented on what everyone else was talking about.

“How was y’all’s honeymoon?” Sophia directed toward Sandra and Derrick.

Karla sent her a look of gratitude and even tried to smile, but the light was thoroughly extinguished in her usually expressive, bubbly demeanor.

“It was wonderful,” Sandra said, though her gaze kept cutting back to Karla. Then she looked directly at Sophia, one brow rising as if to say, “What are we going to do about this?”

Sophia grimaced and lifted one shoulder in a shrug. She had no idea what to do or say to make her friend feel better. How could she? The only person at this point who could make Karla feel better was Ken.

“The beach was beautiful,” Sandra continued. “And the food was delicious. Our room had a balcony that overlooked the ocean and at night we’d lie in bed and listen to the waves. I don’t think I’ve ever slept as well as I did for those two weeks.”

“You slept?” Sophia asked in amusement. “I’m shocked.”

Derrick coughed as he put down his drink. James chuckled and Sandra looked shocked by Sophia’s remark. Then she blushed madly and joined in James’s laughter.

“Okay, well maybe I slept a little,” Sandra murmured.

Derrick grinned and reached over to squeeze her hand. “Was the food good? I can’t say I really remember much except you. Was there even a beach? My memory is a little hazy.”

“Shhh!” Sandra squeaked out.

“A beach sounds awesome right now,” Sophia said wistfully.

Ever since she’d had her epiphany about living life and maybe enjoying some of the money she had invested, she’d thought more and more about traveling. A vacation. Maybe more than one. Finally she had the courage to see some of the world beyond her sheltered existence. And she had someone to share it with.

“You should go,” Sandra said, seizing the opening. “When have you ever taken a vacation?”

“Never,” Derrick interjected.

James studied her thoughtfully. “Maybe we could both take a vacation soon.”

Sophia’s cheeks warmed with pleasure. “I’d like that,” she said softly.

Karla looked even sadder. Tears glistened in her eyes but she looked away, hiding them from the rest of the table. Sophia’s heart ached for her.

“Karla, why don’t you get Ken to go away on a vacation?” Sophia asked, taking the bull by the horns.

They were in the company of friends. Trusted friends. There was no sense dodging the issue. Everyone knew. Everyone could see Karla’s pain. Hiding it didn’t change it.

“He’d never go,” Karla said dully.

“Maybe you should arrange a kidnapping,” Derrick said thoughtfully.

Karla grimaced. “He’d kill me. He’s working so hard to juggle his client load after his partner quit so unexpectedly. He’s determined not to lose anyone. I’m just going to have to ride it out and hope it doesn’t stay like this forever.”

James cleared his throat and looked as though he were weighing whether he wanted to say something or not. Then he looked at Karla, his eyes warm with concern and understanding.

“Have you tried telling him how you feel, sweetheart? I know if the woman I loved came to me and told me she was unhappy, I’d move heaven and earth to make it right.”

Karla’s smile was sad and aching. Her eyes watered again but she looked at them all directly, no longer trying to hide her upset.

“Thank you all,” she said, dodging the direct question James had asked. “I’m just being a big baby. I don’t want to be yet another burden on him when things are so crazy with work. I just have to be patient and supportive. Our anniversary is coming up and he’s promised me a night out with no work.”

Derrick and James didn’t look convinced. Sandra was obviously distressed to see Karla so unhappy. It was just Sandra’s nature to want to help others. She was so giving and generous. Her heart was incredibly soft.

Recognizing that Karla wanted to shift the topic off her and Ken, Sophia stood and picked up her plate.

“Come on, Sandra. I’ll help you clear the table. We can have dessert in the living room, right?”

Sandra also stood and began collecting plates. “Absolutely. I’ll get Derrick to choose a good dessert wine and then I’ll cut everyone a piece of pie.”

As Sophia walked by Karla, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

“It’s going to be okay, Karla,” Sophia whispered. “And you know I’m here for you whenever you need me, right?”

Karla flashed Sophia a look of gratitude. “Thanks, sweetie. I really appreciate it. But I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine,” she amended.

Hoping her friend was right, Sophia continued on into the kitchen to unload her pile of plates. Sandra followed behind a few moments later, her brow furrowed in consternation.

“I hate to see her so unhappy,” Sandra said fiercely. “Isn’t there anything we can do?”

“Short of hitting Ken upside the head and asking him what the hell his problem is?” Sophia said dryly.

Sandra made a sound of disgust. “You know I love Ken to pieces, but right now he’s as thick as a brick. I can’t believe he can’t see the misery in Karla’s eyes when everyone knows how bubbly and outgoing she always is. But she’s only that way when she’s happy. Karla can’t hide her feelings to save her life. When she’s unhappy, it shows in every facet of her personality. And Ken can’t see that?”

“He likely doesn’t want to see it,” Sophia said quietly. “Because if he acknowledges that she’s unhappy then he has to deal with the fact that he’s made her that way. I think he knows. Deep down. But he’s in denial. By pretending everything is normal, he doesn’t feel guilty.”

“That just seems so chickenshit,” Sandra muttered. “I know he loves her. I know that. But gah! This is so not like him, Sophia! I’ve never seen him this way. So distant. So willing to place Karla second or even third in his priorities. In the past he’s always been so solidly focused on her. The kind of relationship they have, he has to be.”

“I don’t pretend to know anything about the kind of relationship they share,” Sophia said carefully. “But from what I’ve gleaned from y’all, I’d say he’s falling down on the job as her Dominant. Haven’t y’all always said that it’s the Dominant’s duty to see to his submissive’s every need? To put her first and above all else? Isn’t he supposed to cherish her gift of submission?”

“Yes,” James said from the doorway to the kitchen. “Absolutely. Always. No question.”

Sophia glanced up quickly. She hadn’t noticed him coming in. She’d been too absorbed in her conversation with Sandra.

He unloaded dishes from his arms and then picked Sophia’s hand up, bringing it to his lips.

“He’s supposed to do all those things,” James said. “And it would appear, at least right now, that he isn’t.”

“I’m glad Sandra and I aren’t the only two who see it,” Sophia murmured.

“Well, you two know her better. And Ken as well. I’m just an unbiased observer. But from what you’ve told me and from what I witnessed tonight I would agree that Karla is very unhappy.”

Sandra sighed, closing her eyes. “I wish I knew what to do.”

James smiled gently at her. “There’s nothing you can do except be there for her. Be her sounding board and her friend. Ken has to work this out between them. No one else can.”

“You need help with the pie, Sandra?” Sophia asked.

Sandra shook her head. “You go back to Karla so she’s not by herself. I’ll bring in the plates and give her the biggest and first piece.”

Sophia smiled at her friend. “You’re the best, Sandra. I don’t think I tell you often enough, but I love you.”

Sandra’s lips quivered and for a moment she was silent, as if composing herself. Stark emotion shone in Sandra’s eyes. Sophia felt a surge of guilt for not protecting her friendships better. Going forward she would absolutely. Sandra and Karla meant the world to her. It was time Sophia showed that and they knew it too.

“I love you too, Sophia. And I’m so glad you’re happy. Both of you,” she said, including James in her declaration.

“Thanks, Sandra. Sophia makes me happy. I’m a very lucky man.”

The sincerity in his simple declaration hit her square in the heart and flooded her with profound happiness. She almost skipped to the living room. She was positively bouncing. Then as soon as her gaze landed on Karla she felt guilt for being so disgustingly happy when her friend was so obviously miserable.

“Don’t feel guilt for being happy, baby,” James murmured in her ear.

She swung her gaze upward, her mouth gaping. “How the hell do you do that?”

He chuckled. “Do what? Read your mind? It didn’t take ESP to figure out what you were thinking. One minute you looked like you swallowed sunshine and as soon as you saw Karla, your mouth drooped, you lost the smile and you looked guilty. Don’t be, baby. You deserve to be happy and Karla would be the first one to say so. She’d never trade your happiness for her own.”

Sophia shook her head in amazement. “You’re incredible, you know that?”

“I’m glad you think so,” he said with a smile.

Still shaking her head, Sophia went over to plop down beside Karla. She wrapped her arm around her friend’s shoulders and hugged her fiercely.

“Chin up, girlfriend. Isn’t that what you always tell me? You always have such wonderful advice, so I’m going to give you back some of what you’ve always given me so freely. Don’t let this get you down. You’ll kick Ken’s ass and then he’ll grovel for your forgiveness, and you being you will forgive him and y’all will live happily ever after.”

Karla grinned. Some of the shadows lifted from her eyes and the sparkle was back. Sophia’s heart surged with relief. This was Karla. Not the shell of herself she’d become lately. Karla just . . . sparkled. But it was as Sandra had said. She only sparkled when she was happy. Damn Ken’s thick skull for not seeing his wife’s unhappiness.

“I swear you fall in love and then you become positively arrogant. I like it! It’s so . . . you.”

“It’s the new me,” Sophia said blithely. “The old me? Not so much. But she’s gone now and I like the new me much better.”

“I love you both,” Karla said. “There was nothing wrong with the old you except you weren’t happy. Now you are. That’s the only difference.”

“It’s not, but I love you for saying so,” Sophia said.

Sandra came sailing in and handed Karla a plate with a huge piece of caramel pie. Derrick appeared with two glasses of wine for Karla and Sophia, and Karla clinked her glass to Sophia’s.

“Here’s to kicking ass. Regardless of whose.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Sophia said.

Sophia's heart was a little heavier on the way home than when they’d driven to Derrick’s and Sandra’s for dinner. But even concern for her friend couldn’t dissipate her optimistic outlook on her future.

She slid her hand into James’s and rested them on the center console as he drove back to his—their—home. When had she started considering his home her own? She hadn’t been back to her house more than a handful of times since James had all but moved her into his house. Only to get clothes and other items she needed.

There had been absolutely no mention of her returning to her house. But neither had they directly addressed the issue of her moving in. James had just hauled her into his house and informed her she was staying.

Wow, she really was mellowing with age and experience. Amusement gripped her as she imagined someone telling her a month ago that she and James would be an item and that he’d hauled her out of her office caveman-style and told her she wasn’t going anywhere.

She would have laughed herself silly.

And yet, here she was, in love. Happy. Living with James. Having sex.

She winced over the word sex. True, it was sex but it seemed a crass description of their lovemaking. She’d never fully considered the difference between sex and “making love.” She’d never had any reason to. And she certainly hadn’t imagined herself having sex. With any man, but especially a man like James.