Read Online Who Gets the Friends? by Tim Smith - Free Book Online Page A

starting over and I know I’ll make mistakes, but I’d really like to take the journey with you and see where it leads us.”
    She gave a shy smile and brushed his cheek. “Thank you. I’m truly sorry for what I said that night, but I’ve had a lot of time to think about it.” She paused. “I’m ready to move on, too.”
    He kissed her. “Then let’s go back inside and get started.”
    He wrapped his arm around her waist and walked her inside. When they reached the door, Tom stopped in surprise. His ex-wife was leaving the restaurant with a tall distinguished-looking man with sandy brown hair. He regained his composure and forced a cordial smile.
    “Hello, Judi. Nice to see you.”
    She gave him a smug look. “Same here. Tom, I’d like you to meet Stan. He’s a doctor.”
    Tom shook hands, then looked at Jessica. “And I’d like you to meet Jessica. She’s my new friend.”
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
    Tom looked around his apartment, assuring himself that everything was tidy and presentable. This is the first time I’ve had anyone over besides Doug. Hope it looks okay.
    He answered the knocking at the door and smiled when he saw Jessica. He let her in, then gave her a hug.
    She shrugged off her coat while scanning the living room. “Very nice. I see you have all the creature comforts.”
    “Thanks. It’s taking shape.”
    Jessica looked at the framed photographs adorning the walls. “These are yours, I take it?”
    “Yeah, they are.”
    She slowly nodded while looking at each detail. “You have a real knack for capturing the mood.” She pointed to one picture, taken in the mountains. “I recognize this place. Cade’s Cove, down in the Smokeys, right?”
    “Good eye. I took that one a few years ago.”
    She gestured at another one. “Sausalito, San Francisco.”
    He chuckled. “Okay, so you’ve been around. I’m impressed. Would you like a glass of wine?”
    “Love it.”
    Tom returned from the kitchen with two glasses, then handed her one. They toasted each other, then took sips.
    “I like this,” Jessica commented. “Niagara?”
    “Yeah, from one of the Lake Erie wineries.”
    She curled up on the couch and Tom sat next to her.
    “I like your Christmas tree,” she said while looking at the four-foot decorated tree on an end table. “Do the decorations mean anything?”
    “Some do. I’ve had a few of them for years. Strictly sentimental value.”
    “I think that’s nice. It’s like you’re keeping family tradition alive.”
    “Do you do that with your tree?”
    “Yeah. I like to add ornaments that mean something, whether it was a family heirloom or something I picked up on a trip.” She sipped her wine, then set her glass on the coffee table. “I seem to recall someone telling me they were going to show me their portfolio when I came over.”
    “Who told you that?”
    She laughed. “You did, silly. Coming back to you now?”
    Tom answered by retrieving a thick photo album from the table and resting it in her lap. Jessica eagerly flipped through the pages, but stopped at one showing two young children playing on a Jungle Jim, all smiles.
    “Who are they?”
    “My niece and nephew. They were having so much fun I couldn’t resist capturing the moment.”
    She flipped to another series of shots featuring a bulldog puppy. “Aw, he’s adorable. Yours?”
    “Family pet named Brutus. Puppies make the best photo subjects because they love to explore everything. All you have to do is follow them around.”
    Jessica chuckled and continued looking. She stopped and her eyebrows arched when she reached a section that contained photos of women in swimsuits, in a variety of beach poses. “These are your model shots?”
    “Yeah. All of them trying for the next Sports Illustrated cover.”
    “Did any of them make it?”
    “If they did, word hasn’t gotten back here yet.”
    She closed the album, then handed it to him. “Very nice. I’m glad you’re getting back into photography.