Doesn’t help that Odette’s in a wheelchair.
By the time I make it back to Copper Valley—nope.
Not finishing that thought.
These ladies live to the fullest and they’ve adopted me as one of their own and taught me so much in the past two years.
Thatis what I choose to focus on.
“It would’ve been so much more poetic if it was a crab leg,” Evelyn says.
“Or something unexpected like mashed potatoes,” Odette agrees.
They pull out their notebooks, and I settle deeper into the plush cushion with my wine in hand, watching each of their expressions as they get to work writing alternate versions of Jimbo’s obituary.
Odette brandishes her pen with a flourish. Evelyn mouths the words as she writes them. Sheila writes, scribbles, writes, scribbles, and then smiles to herself as if she’s found exactly the phrase she was looking for.
I want to remember every minute of this.
And ignore the way my palms are itching for me to grab my phone and reply to Fletcher.
He, too, is not in my future.
But he’s making my present another level of fun.
18
From the Instagram direct messages of Goldie and Fletcher
CoachGoldie: That dating thing. You realize you called me your girlfriend in front of my ex the other night, right?
RugbyFletch: You’re welcome.
CoachGoldie: My statement was more factual than gratitudinal.
RugbyFletch: Gratitudinal?
CoachGoldie: It’s a word.
RugbyFletch: A bad word.
CoachGoldie: There are no good or bad words. Merely words that are sometimes more or less appropriate depending on the situation. For example, it was more on the inappropriate side for you to call me your girlfriend. Though I do appreciate the sentiment and the effect it had.
RugbyFletch: Your girl squad approved.
CoachGoldie: My girl squad?
RugbyFletch: *screenshot of Fletcher’s DMs with Sheila wherein Sheila thanks Fletcher for taking good care of Goldie at that wedding*
CoachGoldie: Tell me that’s doctored.
RugbyFletch: If it were doctored, she’d be offering to have my babies too.
CoachGoldie: Do you want babies?
RugbyFletch: Do you want to continue this conversation?
CoachGoldie: *laughing emoji*
