“I warned you about this.”
“Within an hour of arriving in town no less, all alone, without a friend in sight.”
She bumps her hip into mine. “At least we’ve rectified that little issue.”
“We certainly have. I appreciated the welcome wagon.”
“And look at the impact a few months have made.”
“I’m not staying beyond my contract,” I remind.
“How the mighty have fallen,” she continues.
“As if you’re one to talk.”
She waves me off. “We all know I’m a lost cause. If you want to embrace this newfound lifestyle—temporary as it might be—get some decent boots.”
So smooth, this one. “I’ll consider it.”
“Fine.” She holds up a bag of Laffy Taffy. “How about these?”
“Fun fact? I’ve never had one.” I barely hide my wince.
Her jaw drops with a wet snick. “Good Lord, woman. You haven’t lived.”
“That’s debatable. Most would argue that stuff gets stuck in your teeth.”
“But telling jokes with a mouthful of goo is priceless.” She shakes her fist in a display of outrage.
“That does sound fun,” I muse.
“Excellent.” She drops the stash in her basket. “What else? The clock is ticking.”
That reminder is humorous considering she’s not innocent in causing a delay. Tapping my lips, I peruse the plentiful assortment for our selection. Sondra snatches a triple pack of watermelon bubblegum. I add a box of cheesy crackers to the mix. Our lull expands into a comfortable silence. Once again, I find my candy search skidding to a halt. A row of Baby Ruth bars is the culprit. I wrinkle my nose, not the least bit interested in grabbing one.
“You seem… distracted. More than usual,” she chides.
I give my head a quick shake. For once, my thoughts aren’t on Reeve. “Oh, sorry. My friend called earlier. She’s pregnant. That just randomly popped into my mind.”
“Really? That’s exciting!” Her eyes sparkle.
“It is, but the situation with the father is really screwy.”
“What do you mean?”
Presley’s hysterical tone still rings in my ears. Talk about a serious whoopsie. After talking to her for almost an hour, I’m still not sure how Chad managed to knock her up. Traveling down that path will require copious amounts of wine. I’ll have to plan another visit home before work ties me down.
Sondra lifts her brows at my extended silence.
I wave my hands in front of me. “Never mind. It’s complicated and a story for another day.”
She nods in understanding. “For what it’s worth, I hope it works out for her.”
“I’m sure it will. Presley is savvy.”
“Good, good. I wish her all the best.” She rubs her hands together as we stroll toward the self-checkout lanes. “Since we’re done collecting those mouthwatering treats, let’s focus on a more tantalizing variety. Are you still denying the sizzling chemistry with Reeve?”
I expel a long breath, ensuring Sondra can hear my resistance. She’s starting to remind me of Vannah with her clever segues. I’m peppered by this subject so often that I feel more seasoned than Grandpa’s famous chili. Without acknowledging her question, I shovel our stash onto the conveyor belt. She’s the one giving me shit for slowing this process down. Her loud huff and foot-tapping stop me.
“Yes,” I admit. “Anyone with eyeballs can see the sparks flying. That doesn’t mean I’m going to act on it, though.”
Sondra swipes her card in the reader before I can reach my wallet. “You two are totally going to have sex.”
I shove our snacks into my oversized purse and beat cheeks to the exit. “We aren’t. These outings are strictly platonic, which is precisely why we invite friends to join us.”
Her pace matches mine. “Uh-huh, right. Two weeks ago, you chose the county fair. How cliché.”
“It’s better than having Reeve mostly nude and within reach, yet I’m not allowed to touch. That’s worse than being a spectator at the zoo. Why is he so sexy? I needed a freaking drool bib.” The prickle of sweat dotting my brow has nothing to do with the remains of today’s humidity enveloping me. I get all hot and bothered in my lower belly just picturing the steel cut of his abs begging for friction.
Sondra hums. “The lake was a strategic move.”
“Which is why I countered with something much… safer.”
The noise she emits resembles a disgruntled cow. “Until you shared an intimate spin on the Ferris wheel. Again with the predictable scene for making a love connection.”
“It’s not like that.” I repeat myself so often that the words sound funny.
“I’m just counting the days until you surrender to the inevitable.”
“Why risk a solid friendship for a quick bang?”
She blinks at me. “Orgasms on the scale of multiples.”
I curl my toes as a tingle of electricity attacks me. “Now who’s giving Reeve too much credit?”
“Oh, please. As if you haven’t fantasized about all that erotic bodice ripping.”
“You need to quit reading those historical romances.”
“And you need to take advantage of this arrangement. Did he pick last?”
“Yep. We went to a demolition derby and tractor pull.”
“Wow, that’s so romantic.” Her voice drips sarcasm.
“Oh, really? I believe that’s the entire point.” I roll my eyes. “By the way, thanks for joining this evening.”
She salutes me. “Date decoy at your service.”
“You’re such a dork.”
“It helps that they’re showing one of my favorites tonight. I’ve seen Dirty Dancing enough to memorize it, but that movie never gets old.” Sondra shimmies her hips, adding a twirl for good measure.
Following her lead is a reflex, as if the famous soundtrack already plays through hidden speakers. “It’s a classic.”
She tips her head back with another spin. “For us, maybe.”
We enter Bampton Commons, finding the outdoor space already crammed with clumps of moviegoers. “Do they ever do the real oldies?”
Sondra hops to the side to avoid someone’s blanket. “Not really, unless Dottie and her crew put together a theme night.”
I glance across
