Watch for it.
How do I know? Troll the message boards, and you’ll see she’s been asking around for couples’ opportunities. Sandals, the nudist/sex place, Atlantis.
You heard it here first.
Affectionately yours,
The UnAffectionate Blogger
Despite Andrea blowing me off, I continue reading her blog. It feels intimate since I know her name. How does she do it? Where does she get her information? She must spend twenty hours a day online. I guess that’s why she can’t help me.
My phone dings, and I quickly forget about Andrea. I have a date with Andi today.
ANDI: Running ten minutes late. Leona took Gabby early, and I went for a run.
I’m not upset. Actually, I’m strangely happy Andi had a chance to run and enjoy herself.
My heart ached for her when she spoke about those bloggers being mean to her. I get it. In fact, I’m taking some time off next semester to work on the blog and figure out what I want to do with it. The administration continues pushing me on it, and I don’t feel like explaining.
My phone dings again. This time it’s a text from my sister.
JULIE: Hey, loser. We’re coming to the mainland in July. I know it’s a long way off, but save us some time.
REID: Duh, I’ll set aside five minutes.
She sends me an emoji with its tongue sticking out, but I don’t respond. It would only set off an emoji war, and it’s time to grab Andi. No time for silliness right now.
I pull on my coat and head to my Jeep, thinking I should grab some flowers. I make a right out of my street instead of a left and pull over next to the guy in front of the bank.
Ray peddles bundles of flowers on the weekend. I’ve met him a few times when I’ve been down in the Strip District (aka the wholesale food district). He’s a single dad of twins. During the week, he works for the cable company, and Friday afternoon through Sunday morning, he does the flower thing.
Ray shakes my hand. “Heya, Reid. Big date, or bribing your secretary to work on Sunday?”
“Ha, very funny. And I think it’s appropriate to say administrative assistant nowadays.”
“Tomato, tomahto. What can I get ya?”
“I’ll take one of those colorful bushels.” I point to the back buckets.
“Deep pockets, I see.”
“Oh, you know me. By the way, how’re your kids?”
“You remembered?”
“Hell yeah, you got twins.”
“They’re good. My sister watches them for me on the weekends, and they’re a help to her with her toddler.”
My heart thumps when I think about Andi, who only has Leona, and yet she makes it work.
Deciding I don’t want to waste a second of Andi’s precious free time, I pay and go straight to her house without stopping at Go. I do make a mental note to stop at Ray’s corner more often.
“Hey,” she says when she opens the door. “Are those for me?”
“They are.”
She looks delicious in jeans and a navy turtleneck sweater, brown knee-high boots. I swallow, telling myself we’re going out, when all I want is to stay in and get naked.
