“She’s smart, funny, and very creative. She does landscaping for aliving.” She took a bite of her sandwich.
“Outdoorsy, huh?”
Emma nodded as she chewed. “Has her own company.”
“Maybe she can give your father a few tips on how to keep thegrass alive.”
“I’m sure she can. Her yard is gorgeous.”
“So when do I get to meet this wonderful landscaper, Dex?”
“I’m gonna hold off on that for now. I’m just getting to know her,Mom.” All she needed was for her mother to get in the middle and scare Dexaway.
“You’re not embarrassed to bring her home, are you?”
“Of course not. I just want to see where this is going first.Okay?” She finished the last bite of her sandwich, wadded up the paper wrapper,and tossed it onto the tray.
“Okay, but when you’re ready to rein her in, I’m on board tohelp.” Glo continued to eat what was left of her sandwich, as she’d been doingmore talking than eating.
Emma chuckled. Her mom was totally serious. “Thanks, Mom. I’llkeep you in the loop.” That was so not happening.
After Glo finished her sandwich, Emma cleared the table, and thenthey headed to the next store on her mom’s list.
Chapter Fourteen
The doorbell rang three times in a row, and then theknocking began. Dex knew it would ring several more times before she could getdownstairs and answer the door. It had to be Grace, given the fifteen textsshe’d sent her already this morning. She’d been in too good a mood to talk toher, but now she was going to have to do it whether she wanted to or not.
Panda hopped up onto the bed, and Dex rubbed her behind the ears.She’d interrupted them only once during the night with a loud meow, which,thankfully, Emma found hysterical. Except for that little incident, both lastnight and this morning had been perfect. Well, until Grace showed up.
She got out of bed, pulled on her hoodie, and went downstairs. Shestill hadn’t showered. She’d put it off to keep Emma’s essence with her forjust a little while longer. She could still smell Emma on herself, and it didsomething wonderful to her—calmed her and made her feel content. Dex’s outlookon relationships was changing. Maybe life wouldhave a happy ending in store for her after all.
As soon as she opened the door, Grace barreled through it. “Wherehave you been? I haven’t heard from you in days.” She dropped her purse on thecouch.
“I’ve been busy estimating jobs and taking orders. Light season’sabout to hit.”
“You’ve called me every day for as long as I can remember.”
“Well, um…I thought maybe I should cool that since Brent movedin.” It was a plausible excuse.
“Is this your sweater?” Grace plucked the sweater from the counterwith her thumb and index finger. “Oh, I see. This is why.” She held it up andscrutinized it. “You found somebody to fuck, and you don’t need your old friendGrace anymore.”
“Jesus, Grace.” Dex swiped it out of her hand and took it to thelaundry room. Emma must have put Dex’s on upstairs by mistake. “I can have alife too, you know.”
Grace closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. “I’m sorry. Thatwas uncalled for. I just miss talking to you. You get me. Remember? We goperfectly together. Dex and Grace like Dolce and Gabbana.” Grace used to saythat often, but had rarely mentioned the phrase in recent years since she’d metBrent.
“There is no more D and G, Grace. That’s done. You have Brent.You’re GB…Gianni Bini now.”
Grace scrunched her face. “That’s not fair. You can’t just throwme out of the fun like that.”
Dex shrugged. “I didn’t throw you out, Grace. You left the party.”
“But you’re the only person who truly knows me. Even Brent doesn’tknow me as well as you do. We’ve always been each other’s person.”
“Things have changed, Grace. You’re married now. I need thatperson to be someone else.”
“And you think that’s Emma?” Grace’s voice rose again.
“Maybe. I don’t know yet.”
“She is so wrong for you.” Grace strutted across the room.
“Why?” Dex followed her, took her arm, and swung her around. “Whyis she so wrong for me, Grace?”
“She just is.”
“Because she’s not you?”
“You’re damn right she’s not me. No one can be me.” The angerin Grace’s voice spiked.
“You made your choice, and it wasn’t me.” She shook her head andblew out a breath. “It was never going to be me.”
Whenever Dex would take the slightest interest in another woman,Grace would show up full force in her life and shatter any chance the othergirl had at finding a place in Dex’s heart. Purposely or not, she did it every time. Dexwanted it to be different this time. She really liked Emma.
Grace took in a deep breath. “Okay. Clearly you haven’t had enoughsleep.” She spun around and snatched her purse from the couch and sped to thedoor. “Call me when you’ve gotten some rest. We can talk again then.” Sheyanked open the door. The house rattled when she closed it behind her.
“Clearly, I wasn’t saying what you wanted to hear.” She mimickedGrace. “Right, Panda?” She gave the cat a quick scratch before she filled herfood dish. Then she went to the laundry room, picked up Emma’s sweater, andsmashed her face into it. Her head filled with comforting thoughts of Emma, andher world was good again.
* * *
Dex’s stomach fluttered when the doorbell rang. She’d been antsysince she’d received Emma’s text letting her know she’d just dropped off hermom and was on her way. She’d been looking forward to seeing her again sincethe moment she’d left this morning.
When she opened the door, Emma stepped inside and kissed her untilher knees wobbled.
“I take it shopping went well?”
“It did, but I couldn’t wait to get back here.” Emma tugged offher coat, and Dex hung it on the hall tree.
The somersaults in Dex’s stomach continued. “Really?”
“Yes, really.” Emma went immediately back to kissing Dex. “Youhaven’t started dinner yet, have you?” she asked, breaking away for a moment.
The spark in Emma’s eyes was unmistakable. “Dinner can wait.” Shetook Emma’s hand, and they hurried up the stairs. This
