“We’re about an hour out. I need to drop Chris off. Do you have plans for dinner?”
“I’m in line to get Chinese if you and Chris want to come over to the house. Denise and I were going to veg and watch a movie.”
“We still need to shower. We’re pretty ripe.”
“You can shower at the house if you don’t need to get a change of clothes.” Bree cringed as soon as she made the offer. Could she sound more desperate? Could she rescind the offer without sounding even more ridiculous?As she wracked her brain for an exit strategy, she heard Jase talking to Chris, asking if he had some clean clothes. Maybe she didn’t come across as desperate as she thought she did.
“Yeah, we’re good with that if you are.”
“Um, yeah. I’m good with that.” More cringing. Why was this conversation so awkward? “What kind of Chinese do you like?”
“Beef and vegetables for me. Chris wants General Tsao’s chicken. Extra spicy.”
“Okay, I’ll see you in a little bit.”
“’Bye.”
“’Bye.” She hung up before she turned it into a cheesy you-hang-up-first ordeal. Tapping her phone against her forehead, she replayed the conversation over in her mind. He had called her before he even got home to take a shower. Maybe he was just as moony as she was. Taking a deep breath, she got back in line.
Receipt in hand, she called Denise while she waited for the order. “Are you sure you don’t mind? It was just supposed to be us.”
“No, I don’t mind.” Denise laughed. “We’ve done plenty of girl time. We should probably branch out a bit. Think they’d be okay with watchingMagic Mike?”
Bree smiled. “I’m going to go withnoon that one.”
“Hmm. I might have to make sure it’s on when they walk in just to mess with them a little bit.”
Bree laughed at that thought of Jase and Chris’s reaction to having to sit throughMagic Mike. “I’m totally okay with screwing with their heads.”
“Sweet! See you soon.”
The doorbell rang as Bree pulled the last container of food from the to-go bag. Why did Denise ring the doorbell? She looked through the peephole to be greeted with a close-up of Denise’s nose pressed up against the viewer. That explains that.
She threw the bolt and swung the door open. “That’s hot.” Denise’s dog shuffled in with her and greeted Bree’s dogs.
“I know. Right? How am I still single?” Denise kicked off her shoes by the door and followed Bree into the kitchen. “That’s a lot of food.”
Bree set the containers on a baking sheet and put them in the warmer. “Two guys are coming for dinner who just spent a week camping, probably getting most of their calories from beer.”
“I see your point.” She got a glass out of the cabinet. “I’m going to go cue upMagic Miketo Channing Tatum’s solo so I can press play right before you open the door for them.” She poured tea from a pitcher and returned it to the fridge.
“I think you’re enjoying this just a little too much,” Bree said.
“Maybe, but I’m not getting my kicks anywhere else, so I’ll take what I can get.”
“I’m going to put towels and soap in the hall bath.” She poured a glass of water and joined Denise in the living room.
“What time are they going to be here?” Denise asked.
Bree curled her legs under her and leaned against the armrest of the couch. “Jase said an hour when he called, so should be soon. We’re watchingThe Expendables, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“Just checking.”
“On to more important things. Are there any suspects in your neighbor’s murder?” Denise asked.
“Not that I know of. Tim hasn’t said anything.”
