Well, Mitch had said a lot of things, too.
Heck, maybe I was only interested in Parker because it would be easier, so much easier to go from Mitch’s house to his. For heaven’s sake, I wouldn’t have to leave my friends.
But ... the photos Mitch’s lawyer produced had shocked me in more than one way. Our bodies leaned toward each other in the picture taken after our runs, and our smiles reached all the way to our eyes. We melted into each other like two pieces of the same puzzle in the one where we were kissing.
But was that love or just lust?
I willed myself not to look at Parker’s house. Myself did not listen. Fortunately, my body did stay planted in my chair instead of running for his front door.
What I would give to have someone to lean on.
You’ve got to learn to stand on your own two feet.
The memory of Mom’s voice reminded me that she’d left me, too. I swiped at a tear.
I didn’t like being alone in the cul-de-sac. I didn’t like it at all.
I caught myself straining to hear Lucky’s meow.
On the one hand, a quick internet search had reminded me that cats are remarkably self-sufficient. On the other, lost cats weren’t as likely to be reunited with their owners. Especially if the cat in question wasn’t chipped and didn’t wear a collar.
Yet another place where I’d fallen down on the job.
I texted Dylan, but he had to study for a test.
My sigh echoed through the cul-de-sac. Even the wind whipping through the trees behind the house sounded melancholy.
I gave it a few more minutes before packing it in for the evening. Wine Down Wednesday, I was afraid to admit, had been a bust. A shiver ran down my spine: What if we never had another Wine Down Wednesday again?
Normally, Halloween was one of my favorite holidays, but I didn’t feel like decorating the house the next night. Only three trick-or-treaters showed up, and I sat all night on the front porch both looking for Lucky and ready to do bodily harm to anyone who hurt her. Come to think of it, maybe I was giving off a vibe that kept people away.
Either that, or word got around the neighborhood that I wasn’t giving out full-size candy bars like last year.
Afterward, I made a video about Halloween, but my heart wasn’t in it.
Unable to think of any new video topics, I created a survey for my viewers to fill out. Maybe they would have some good ideas.
Rachel still wasn’t speaking to me, and Abi was answering in monosyllables, but I ran into Zeke at the mailbox. He told me they’d found Barney. Unfortunately, he’d been hit by a car, and the vet didn’t know for sure if he was going to make it. He was home now, but Abi hadn’t left his side.
I told Zeke to tell her I was praying for the dog and to call me if there was anything I could do.
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask for prayers for my cat, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that no one really cared about me or my cat. I didn’t even tell Parker.
I did text Suja and ask her to be on the lookout for Lucky and to take care of her if she found her. As many times as I’d taken Suja to school, I didn’t feel bad about asking. It didn’t hurt that she loved that silly cat.
Finally, Friday rolled around. I headed to the airport by myself to go to the influencers event in Napa.
I was alone. Unchaperoned. Literally flying solo.
At least I didn’t break out into a cold sweat at the thought of navigating the airport now, but I would have to rent a car and drive to the resort once I reached my destination.
Why are you doing this?
Because the YouTube channel and a part-time job at Target might end up being all I had.
And that was assuming my good friend Joe hired me after my interview next week.
Buck up, Vivian. It’s a free trip to wine country.
