Instead, she’d spent years trying to find a real man with character and decency. They were few and far between. The dating apps sucked. Friends of friends hadn’t panned out. And her father would be more than content to never have his little girl find a man of her own.
Her brothers hadn’t helped her dating life either, come to think of it.
She refused to think about what those boneheads might do to Ben if they found out what a tool he’d been.
Should I…? No. I can’t tell them. Then one of them will get arrested for assault. And the sheriff is less than forgiving with my brothers already.
The sheriff being her mother, of course.
Marlie plunked down on her sofa, grabbed a throw pillow, and screamed into it.
Then she made herself a cup of cocoa and put on a Hallmark mystery.
A little fictional death never hurt anyone. And if the bad guy happened to resemble Ben, all the better.
The next morning, she received a call from one of the veterinary assistants and took herself to the office, where she often spent her free time.
Dr. Jeff Morrison, her best friend, motioned for her to assist him with a purring older cat, one of their regulars who needed help with his medicine while his elderly owner chatted outside with the receptionist. He shook his head. “In public? Really?”
“I know.” She stroked Killer’s fluffy tail and let him rub all over her hands. “I didn’t mean to share my business with the world, but can you believe Ben was, heck, probably still is, sleeping with Darlene McBride?”
Jeff arched a brow.
She sighed. “Yes, yes. You called it two months ago. You were right. Happy now?”
He held out a hand.
Marlie glared. “Hey, I’m holding onto Killer for you. That should be all I owe you.”
Jeff didn’t budge until she placed a dollar in his hand. Then he quickly gave the cat a shot followed by two pills Killer hated having to swallow. The treats following helped smooth things over before he walked Killer out to his owner.
Marlie wiped down the table and waited.
She’d known Jeff since elementary school. They’d been best friends since they’d fought over a lone school swing, giving each other bloody noses before bonding in time-out.
They’d been with each other through boyfriend after boyfriend. He was no better than her at finding someone to commit to. Though lately, he’d been pretty secretive about someone new in his life.
The moment he returned, she told him about the giant. Andre? No, he was a wrestler. Derrick? Doug? Something like that.
“You’re horrible with names.” Jeff shook his head. “But you were smart not going out with him. He followed you after witnessing you tear into Ben.”
“I know.” But he was kind of cute. In a stalkerish way.
“Guy’s gotta be a masochist. Who goes after someone after witnessing them break up?”
“Someone with bad social awareness?”
Jeff grinned. “You’ve still got it, Marlie. A man-magnet, as my sister likes to say.”
Like Carla was someone to judge. “Isn’t she married to husband number four?”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean she’s not right.”
Marlie shrugged. “I can’t help that I’m awesome.” For some odd reason, guys had always liked her. Enough to date her for a while, but not enough to stick around for the long haul.
Before she could get back into her funk, she poked Jeff in the shoulder.
“Ow.”
