Rosie pulled Lori into a brief hug. “I’d love that. We’ll take my car though—I wouldn’t feel safe in your little Bolt thingy on the freeway.”
“That’s a good call,” Gabe said as she came to stand beside Lori. “Where’re you headed?”
“Memphis.”
“The birthplace of rock and roll.” Gabe looked impressed. “What’s the occasion? Can I tag along, or is it BFF business only?”
Lori rolled her eyes and gestured back to the urn still on the stage. “It’s where Rosie’s mom wanted her ashes scattered.”
“Oh, God. Sorry.” Gabe hit herself upside the head. “Ignore me.”
“We could all go…if you didn’t mind?”
Rosie spun around to Shay, unable to decide if it was the offer or the way she’d made the offer which was the most startling. Hand-holding. Cheek-kissing. Emotional support at public gatherings.And now double-date mini-breaks. It was as good as one of those fake romance tropes in those books Lori was always reading. Rosie wasn’t inclined to turn down the opportunity to spend more time with Shay, even if it was at the expense of a BFF hangout. Lori would always be around, but Shay had made no such promise. “I don’t mind at all.” She turned back to Lori and Gabe. “And it’d be good to get to know you better, Gabe.”
Rosie had given Gabe a hard time when she first came on the scene, but she’d since proven she was worthy of Lori. And it wouldn’t hurt to score points with Shay’s best friend; she never knew when she might need them.
Gabe grinned. “Oh yeah? So you can figure out my weaknesses and exploit them if I ever hurt Lori?”
Rosie tapped her nose. “Exactly.”
Gabe jutted her chin toward Shay. “I should probably do the same then.”
Lori frowned at Gabe, and the three of them exchanged looks as if they all knew something Rosie didn’t.
“You don’t have to worry about us hurting each other,” Rosie said. “We both know what this is and what it isn’t.”
Gabe raised her eyebrows and tugged Lori close. “We should get to Bonnie’s before…before Woody gets there and obliterates the buffet.”
Lori frowned. “You can’t be hungry already? You had two grilled chicken breasts in the truck on the way here.”
“Got to keep these babies fed.” Gabe flexed her arm and stretched the seams of her suit jacket.
Lori visibly swooned and when she clasped Gabe’s giant bicep, her hand looked tiny.
“As much as I love these, you’re being rude.” Lori turned back to Rosie. “Do you need us to do anything?”
Rosie shook her head. “Nope. You’re good to go. Alyssa’s dealing with the flowers, and I just have to look after the urn.” Which was an ordeal all by itself. Every time she picked it up, shehad visions of dropping it and her mom spilling out all over the ground. Having to vacuum her mom up with a Dyson would surely result in a vengeful haunting.
Gabe put her hand on Shay’s shoulder. “You should stay and help with that.”
“I’m pretty sure I can handle holding an urn.” Rosie frowned at Lori, hoping for an explanation, but she just shrugged. Gabe pulled Lori away gently and signaled for the rest of her little team to leave.
Ellery waved from the side of the room and then wandered over. “I’ve been waiting to see how you’re doing.”
“I’m good.” Rosie looked around the room. “No Lenny today?”
Ellery rubbed her forehead and sighed. “I’m sorry, no. She was supposed to come, but…” She drifted off, clearly unable to find an acceptable excuse.
Don’t ever be sorry for her absence. “That’s a shame.” Rosie wouldn’t have been able to keep a straight face if Lori had still been there. “Work emergency?” she asked, though she had no idea what Lenny’s current job of the month was. She and Lori couldn’t keep up.
“Kind of. She says I’ve been obsessed with work since I moved into Lori’s building at the Sanctuary. We’re on a break until I come to my senses and prioritize her needs over the needs of other people’s animals.” Ellery shook her head. “Anyway, I don’t want to talk about that. You’re really okay?”
“I’m really okay.” She noticed Ellery looking over her shoulder toward the stage. “Admiring the flowers?” she asked, knowing full well Ellery had zero interest in pretty things like floral arrangements, even though she was constantly sending them to Lenny. But Ellery did have a weakness for fiery femmes.
Ellery snapped her gaze back to Rosie. “Yeah, yeah. The flowers. They’re…they’re something else.”
She suppressed a smile. “Something else is definitely right.”
