Juni went back to the notes. “Wow. She left you three?” She passedthem between her hands, examining the pink notepaper.
She nodded. “She’s very sweet.”
Juni unfolded the first one and read it. “She’s a fucking miracle.Where is she?” Her eyes widened as she went through them. “Who is she? Iwant to meet her now.”
She contemplated telling Juni a lie, but Dex wasn’t very good atlying, and Juni could always see right through her. “I have no idea. She didn’tsign her name, and if she told me what it was last night, I don’t remember.That’s all a big blur.” Not that she’d ever see her again anyway.
“So you don’t remember anything about her?” Juni’s shouldersdropped.
She took in a deep breath and shook her head. “Except thewonderful way she smelled.” She put her wrist beneath Juni’s nose, and sheinhaled the scent. “And I think she had curly black hair.” She sighed. “Andsilvery-blue eyes.”
“Damn it, Dex.” Juni tossed the notes onto the coffee table. “Youpicked a hell of a night to get stinking drunk.”
“Under the circumstances I think it was appropriate.” She pickedup the notes and stared at them. “And forgivable.”
“Fuck.”
“Did you see me with anyone in particular last night?” Someone hadto have noticed her. Surely the mystery woman hadn’t thrown a bag over Dex’shead and sneaked her out the back door.
Juni shook her head. “No. After I left you at the bar, I danced afew times. When I came back you’d disappeared. I thought you’d gone home.”
“I probably should have, after the fourth shot.” She’d known sheshould be happy for Grace, but seeing her in such joy had only made Dex want todeaden the pain. So that was exactly what she’d done, and now the love godswere punishing her for doing it. Would a day ever come when she could bringsomeone new into her heart? She certainly hoped so, but not today. Her mysterywoman was a complete blur.
“Humph. You were only on number two when I left you.”
“So you didn’t bring me any food?”
“Nope. I was busy rounding up my own entertainment for the night.”
“You met someone, right?” She did remember that. Dark hair, darkbeard, nice smile, and very attentive to Juni.
“Well, I didn’t really meetsomeone. I already knew him. We just got friendlier.”
“Who was it again?”
“Do you remember Josh? He owns Crushed Beans on the corner by thebookstore. I pointed him out to you last night.”
“Oh yeah.” She tilted her head. “Crushed Worms. That worked outfor you?”
“Yes.” Juni grinned. “And stop saying that. He heard you lastnight.” A flush of pink took over Juni’s face.
“Look at you? All flustered. He must be something special.”
“I am not flustered.”
“Uh, yes. You are. Your cheeks could rival the pink on thisnotepaper right now.” She dipped her head toward the notes on the coffee tableand grinned. “Does he know Brent and Grace?”
“Apparently he’s good friends with Grace’s brother. He doesn’t getout much because of the business but had taken the day off. So, he dragged himalong.”
“Wow. That’s certainly serendipitous.”
A huge smile spread across Juni’s face. “Right?”
“So it was a good night.” Dex smiled. “I poured my heart out to acomplete stranger.” The low, throaty voice resonated in her head again, and sheshook it from her thoughts. “And youstarted something new with the coffee man.”
Dex’s phone chimed multiple times as it came to life. “What thehell? Was I that popular last night?”
Juni shrugged. “I may have called you once or twice…and texted afew times.”
“Three calls and five texts.”
“I was worried. You should be glad I didn’t call the police.” Shetossed a couch pillow at her, and it hit Dex in the head. “Ooh. Maybe themystery girl got your number and called.”
The pillow shot to the head didn’t faze her. “No such luck.” Ormaybe it was lucky that she hadn’t called. Dex could only imagine what she’dthought of her last night.
As she scrolled farther she skipped over a message from her motherthat she knew would be a couple of paragraphs long and found one from Grace thathad come through after midnight. Her stomach churned. What could Grace havepossibly wanted to tell her last night? She scrolled to it first, touched itwith her finger, and read it.
Iwas disappointed that I didn’t get to see you when I left tonight. We’re on theplane, getting ready to take off. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks. Ciao xoxo.
The expression on Dex’s face must have given it away. Junisnatched the phone from her and read the message. “That bitch. On the planeheaded to Greece. On her honeymoon.Why can’t she just leave you alone?” Juni shot to her feet and tossed the phoneonto the couch.
“I’m her best friend. Who else is she going to text?” She spokewith a sad sort of irony.
“She shouldn’t be texting anyone.She’s with her new husband.”
Dex picked up her coffee cup and stared into the blackness fillingit. The color matched her mood as she remembered how just a week ago she’dreminded Grace how she felt about her, then asked her to reconsider herupcoming marriage to Brent. Dex had thought she might have a chance when Gracehad pulled her into an embrace, held her tight, and whispered that she’d neverbeen closer to any other soul besides Dex. They were indeed soul mates. Butthen she let go, and with shimmering, vibrant blue eyes, Grace told her she wassure about her decision to marry Brent.
That was that. No more hope. The decision had been made.Truthfully, she knew Grace had made it a long time ago. Dex had watched Gracefall in love with Brent and had wallowed in self-pity. She hadn’t even thoughtabout finding someone to fall in love with herself. She’d held out for ahalf-court bucket shot, and the ball hadn’t even grazed the rim.
“You need to stay far away from that woman when she gets back.”Juni nudged her shoulder with her hand. “Are you listening to me?”
“Yeah, sure. I will.” She glanced at the time on her
