Either Chase didn’t remember the incidents or they didn’t consume him the way they did me. However, he hardly held back when it came to Marlow being a big meanie. Other, more powerful, and less savory words would better describe her behavior, but I’m too polite to even think of them. I hope that’s the last I’ll see of her.
Does she work in Concordia? Is she visiting? Never mind. I don’t know and don’t care. I won’t let that unfortunate encounter put a damper on my memory of the evening.
I change into pajamas and flip on a Ted Lasso rerun to refresh my memory before the next season, but I can’t sit still, so I call Phoebe.
“I miss you, Phoebes.”
“I miss you too, Pipps.”
“I miss us staying up late chatting,” I try to sound normal, casual, but I’m effervescing.
“What’s up? Don’t tell me a rubbish truck dumped its trash all over you. No, wait. A public bus splashed you with a puddle. Oh, hold on. I know. You stepped in dog poo and didn’t realize until you walked all over a carpet in a home furnishings store.”
“Not funny. Those things have all already happened, on the same day, I might add.”
“Then that only means one thing. Lady Libby the Love Liaison is up to her old tricks. Bad blind date? Fish breath? Don’t tell me she’s trying to hook you up with another hog farmer. What did he call himself? The Hog Father?”
I chuckle then press my hand against my chest, feeling the steady thrum of my heartbeat, but also the excited wave that rushes in and out on my breath with a whoosh of excitement that is undeniable.
“I have a really bad case of the heart fluffies, but I’m afraid.” Admitting this brings relief like when a case of hiccups finally stops.
“Why? Is he hideous? An ogre? You know, they say attraction is in the eye of the beholder,” Phoebe says sagely. “The last time you had heart fluffies was in high school. Who is this guy? I want the details. I want to meet him.”
I clear my throat. “Do you remember Freddie’s best friend senior year?”
“No one other than Chase Collins is coming to mind.”
“Yep. The Crush.”
“And sponge cake Chase. The dog that embarrassed my sister. The jerk who sent you from the dining hall red-faced and mortified. I most certainly remember him.”
“And the architectural design for the guy of my dreams.”
“You found a replacement for the GOMD?” Excited relief fills her voice.
“Not a replacement, per se.” I explain everything from him being at Blancbourg to the failed promposal to our evening at the fair.
The line is quiet for a moment.
“Are you there, Phoebe?”
“Yes.” Her voice is small. “So, we’re talking about the football player for the Boston Bruisers? I think he was the spokesman for an athlete health program for a brief time. Came from the legendary Collins football family. Cap Collins was his grandfather, he forced his son, Rhett, into football. He hated it. Then, when he had his own family, he sent his son to high school in England to keep him from the game. Billionaire and the subject of the recent moon-gate scandal?”
It almost sounds like she knows his biography. “Yes, and my first crush.” I was going to saylove, but to love someone, you have to know them and it seems like my sister knows more about Chase than I do.
“Well, in that case, I hope your feelings for him are strong enough for you to forgive me,” Phoebe says in a quick burst.
“Why? What did you do?”
Again, silence.
“Tell me, Phoebe.”
“I came across some info on a certain football player a couple of months ago. I recognized him instantly.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“Didn’t want to scratch at that wound. To be honest, it was kind of boring until?—”
