I perk up. “Today has a plan?”
I’ve been under the impression the plan was survival until my boot comes off in a few weeks. Possibly for the next sixteen years until Emma moves out.
Nate smiles back before opening the door. “There’s always a plan.”
I agree, there’s always a plan, but the problem arises when I don’t know the plan. The last few surprises I received were nothing but horrible. I’m okay if I go my entire life without another one.
“Winnie, we don’t want the baby to eat those,” Nate says, and then the apartment door closes with him blocking my view of my neighbor.
She snorts. “Don’t keep the woman away from cookies.”
A few seconds later the bubbly blonde is in my living room hovering over the boot. “No one has signed it yet.”
“No, they haven’t.” Probably because I’m not in high school and it’s a black boot, not a cast.
“We can fix that later, Winnie,” the friend my neighbor brought with her says standing beside her.
It doesn’t take much contemplating to figure out which friend Nate borrowed the pink apron from. It’s not Winnie because no woman in her right mind would dump the guy she’s had in her apartment the last few weeks. He even came complete with a cowboy hat. I haven’t been out and about to see if he’s still coming around, but I imagine he is. It must have been the new girl with Winnie. Her long dark hair falls down past her shoulders and I smile back when she looks at me because it’s the right thing to do. I try not to feel guilty for spending time imagining her boyfriend being in love with me, as though Nate wasn’t here because I hurt my ankle but because he wanted to be here. This would be our normal lives, but with me up and moving. What does she possess that I don’t? How come the cute ones always end up with hot guys and people like me get cheating Barry?
“Josie, this is Tabitha. She’s dating Nate’s boss, Ridge. Did you two meet?”
The vision of Tabitha being hit by a car is washed away in guilt. How could I even have such horrible thoughts about the wonderful person not dating Nate? Because I’m a bad person, that’s why. It’s the pain medication. I’m a woman in desperate times and all that.
“No, I don’t think I have.” I’ve met tons of people the last few weeks, so I can’t be expected to keep all of them straight. Moving to a new town is tiring — especially a small one like Pelican Bay where you’re expected to know everyone.
“Well, if you ladies are okay, I’ll step out then?” Nate asks, his black baseball cap already stationed on top of his head. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”
“You’re leaving?” The shock written across my face must be enough to show my displeasure because Winnie grimaces.
“We came to keep you and Emma company. Tabitha even brought cookies from the bakery.”
The bakery serves the best cookies I’ve ever tasted. Definitely by anyone on the East Coast. I hate to see Nate leave, especially when he looks so excited to get out of my apartment, but if I can replace him with cookies, I suppose not all hope is lost.
“Go, do your thing,” Winnie says shooing him out the door. “Don’t forget to stop at the police station before you come back,” she yells as the door closes.
My eyes widen in question. “The station?”
Winnie and Tabitha grab quick glances at one another. “She doesn’t know. Does she?”
Winnie shakes her head no.
“Have you had Anessa’s macaroons?” Tabitha asks, passing over the large container of assorted colorful cookies.
I hesitate, still engrossed with the closed door as I wait to see if Nate will come back and rescue me. “Um, no.”
“Oh my gosh you must try them. Katy says they are better than sex.”
“Obviously she isn’t doing it right.” Winnie laughs, taking a cookie from the package. “Don’t get me wrong. They’re delicious, but nothing beats the other thing when done properly.”
Tabitha nods like she understands what she’s talking about, but as I take my first bite of the bright pink macaroon, I agree with Katy. I haven’t had sex in over a year. And well, I’ve never had good sex… Ever.
Barry was more of an efficient lover in the bedroom. Get in, get the job done, and get out. The problem was sometimes he didn’t complete the entire job. If you get what I mean?
“And what don’t I know?” I ask. The macaroons are good, but I’m not that forgetful.
“Well…” Winnie looks to Tabitha, asking her what to do.
Tabitha doesn’t appear to be any help as she stares back at Winnie with her eyes enlarged like a deer caught in the middle of the road between two cars. “I don’t want to be the one to tell her.”
