Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“How long are you going to play it like this?”
“Hey!” Scottie is standing on her porch and waving at us. “What are you guys doing?”
We stop at the white gate across the sidewalk leading to her house.
“We’re walking,” I say, laughing. “Did you think we were about to break out into a sprint?”
She snorts. “Maybe if it had just been you. The only way Cricket would run would be if Martha Stewart were standing at the end of the road.”
“Hey,” Cricket says, smiling.
“Della’s here if you want to take a break and come in,” Scottie says. “But be warned, I’m midcrisis.”
Cricket side-eyes me and opens the gate. I pass through without a word.
I still don’t know these women, aside from Cricket, well enough to know what a crisis looks like to them. What are we walking into? Is it a financial situation? A robbery? Did she lose her job?
“I need to borrow a dog.” Scottie waits for us to enter before closing the door behind us. “Or a cat. But cats and I really don’t mesh well.”
Cricket seems startled by this.
Della pokes her head over the couch and rolls her eyes. Then she holds up a cocktail before sliding back into her seat again.
“I don’t understand,” Cricket says. “Why on earth would you need to borrow a pet?”
Scottie sits on a wicker chair across from Della. Cricket sits beside Della, and I take up the rocking chair near the window.
The house is quaint and comfy. There are lots of pictures and decorations, most of them in warm reds and golds. If I didn’t know it was just Scottie who lives here, I could imagine a family hanging out and sharing meals.
“I met a man.” Scottie’s eyes sparkle. “His name is Grady Brundage and he’s midthirties, so smart, and he likes to garden.”
The words almost hold back her entire squeal.
Ice clinks in Della’s glass as she takes a long drink.
“I still don’t understand where the pet comes in,” Cricket says.
“Oh. Right. He’s a vet. And I don’t have a pet and I really don’t want one. But two things,” Scottie says, holding up a finger. “One, I can’t let him think I don’t like animals because obviously he does. He’d take that as a red flag. And two, I don’t know how I’ll ever see him again if I don’t force it.”
“Scottie,” I say carefully, “I’m not sure if faking a love for animals is a great foundation for a relationship.”
“Listen to her,” Della says. “She just bagged Jay Stetson.”
I stare at her. How does she know? I look at Cricket to see if she’s guilty, but she just shrugs and chuckles.
“What?” Scottie shouts, her jaw dragging the floor. “Why do you guys never tell me the good stuff?”
“I was only guessing,” Della says, winking at me. “I saw Jay go all caveman at Murray’s last Friday night, so given Gabby’s happy little grin, I figured it was a safe bet.”
“Oooh, Gabs. You didn’t tell me that part,” Cricket says, her hands going to her hips.
I sigh. “I just . . . Of course, there’s stuff to tell.”
My friends laugh.
“But I wanted to keep it to myself for a little while,” I say.
“It’s been a while. When do we get the juicy bits?” Scottie asks, rubbing her hands together. “I don’t mean this in any disrespectful way, but I’ve wondered so many times . . .”
A giddiness envelops me, the likes of which I haven’t felt in ages. I’d love nothing more than to gab with the girls about my new situation with Jay. But I don’t want to take away from Scottie, even though she asked.
“I’ll give you all the details later,” I say. “But let’s solve the vet problem first.”
Scottie gives me a soft smile. “You’re the sweetest.”
“So like I’ve been saying for the last hour,” Della says, winding the conversation around. “Find him on social media. Where does he like to hang out? Do you have any mutual friends that could work some magic? Call his office and leave a message. When he calls back, ask him to dinner. Guys love a forward woman.”
“Do not ask him out,” Cricket says, almost as if she’s offended on Scottie’s behalf. “You want a gentleman, not a child of a man that has to have a woman lead him. Next thing you know, you’ll be paying for the date.”
“I’m okay with that,” Scottie says.
Cricket’s eyes widen. “How?”
“Because he’s a veterinarian,” Scottie says. “I imagine everyone he takes out expects him to pay. And I want to stand out—show him that I’m a woman in my own right. I can take care of myself.”
“And she’s choosing him to be in her life,” Della says, taking the invisible baton. “It makes him feel like the lucky one to be noticed by her.”
Scottie shrugs in agreement.