You had eggs on your plate at brunch today.
Yeah—when I wasfinishedeating.
What’s your favorite food?
Winnie started looking for an emoji she could send, but she didn’t think one existed forchocolate lava cakes or biscoff cheesecake.
Now that I know your favorite food is eggs, tell me your favorite animal,she said when she came up empty.
Horses,he sent back.
Winnie giggled like a little girl getting tickled by her daddy when Ty sent,I can send random emojis too -
Winnie finally found a food she liked and sent it.
Her love for guacamole arrived front and center, and she was already scrolling through the emojis for something else to send Ty.
I don’t like:
She sent a row of emojis just as Taylor asked, “Who are you texting?” and Winnie instantly slid her phone under her leg, her left hand moving to stroke Rocky’s back.
“Just someone from work,” she said, and while it wasn’t exactly true, it also wasn’t exactly a lie. “When is Burt going to be here?”
Taylor didn’t answer verbally, but stuck her hip out as her manipulative, cutesy smile appeared.
“Taylor.” Winnie sighed and reached to rub her fingers across her forehead, because a look like that meant only one thing: Burt wasn’t coming here to pick her up for their date, and Taylor needed a favor.
“I’m just meeting him at this barn dance,” she said. “I promise I’ll be back before midnight. I have to be on the road by nine tomorrow morning.”
Winnie looked at her sister, her weariness making her sink further into the beanbag. “What do you need?”
“Just fifty dollars for gas.” Taylor pressed her palms together as if praying. “I promise I’ll pay you back.”
Winnie sighed and gestured to the credenza holding up the TV. “Bring me my purse. You can have whatever cash is in it.”
Taylor squealed and danced over to her purse, practically throwing it at Winnie. She’d deliberately made sure she didn’t have much cash, and she pulled out a single twenty dollar bill, along with a ten. “This is all I have.”
“Thank you,” Taylor gushed. “I’m sure Mom and Daddy will help me with the gas to get home.”
Winnie simply watched her tuck the bills into her bra and turn to leave the house. She wanted to tell her sister that if she didn’t go gallivanting all over town, she wouldn’t have to beg for gas money.
Oh, and if she’d get a job, she could afford to buy the things she needed.
The front door clicked closed behind Taylor, and Salmon jumped down from Winnie’s lap as she pulled her phone out to see if Ty had responded.
He hadn’t; he’d gone silent after her row of mushroom emojis, and Winnie sighed, deflated and a hint of dejection running through her that the flirtatious moment between them had fled.
“Mrow,” Rocky said pathetically, and Winnie grinned at him.
“Yeah, let’s get you guys some dinner.” She heaved herself out of the beanbag, then quickly sent a text to Amelia.
I did it. I have a date with him on Saturday.
Yes!Amelia said instantly.Way to go, Winnie. I want outfit pics and a full run-down afterward.
Winnie tucked her phone in her back pocket and headed into the kitchen, first to feed her cats, and second, to bake something delicious for dinner.
“Maybe brownies,” she mused, because while Winnie didn’t love to cook, she did enjoy baking, and she had full freedom to eat only dessert for dinner if she wanted to. After all, she had a date with a handsome cowboy, and it felt like something to celebrate.
