“No, of course not.I can take the couch.”
Ashlyn shrugged.“Sage is low-maintenance.She’s good with whatever.I have an air mattress, too.We can toss that on the floor.”
“We’ll figure it out.”
“Yep.”Ashlyn tipped her mug up and drained the last of it.She stood and drew a breath, stretching her arms wide.“I need to shower and go.I shouldn’t be too long, though.”
“I’m good with the book.You go make money so you can support my slovenly ways.”
Ashlyn snorted.“You’re the least lazy person I know.But it’s summer, and you’re supposed to be enjoying your downtime.It’s the only time you have any.”
I nodded as Ashlyn walked back to her room.I picked up the book again and dove back in, letting the story suck me in as Ashlyn headed out.
The book held my attention all afternoon, distracting me from everything going on around me.When the front door opened, I looked up at Ashlyn, squinting against the bright light flooding in behind her.
“Have you moved since I left?”she asked with a chuckle.
I shook my head.“I don’t think so.What time is it?”
“It’s almost four.Sage is on her way over.”
I blinked a few times to force myself to wake up and focus.I was still in my pajamas, and I hadn’t showered yet.“I’m going to jump in the shower, if that’s okay.”
“You don’t need my permission to shower.In fact, I’d rather you didn’t wait for me to approve.”
I snorted and flipped her off as her laughter followed me down the hallway to my temporary bedroom.
I took a relatively quick shower, but when I got out, I heard two voices in the living room.I tied my wet hair up in a bun on top of my head and dressed in cotton shorts and a dark tee.I left my dirty clothes in the basket I was using and headed out to meet the woman I’d been listening to in the mornings since I arrived.
“There she is.”Ashlyn and Sage were in the kitchen, munching on a cheese plate.
Sage turned when Ashlyn spoke, and her smile was wide and friendly.She was even more beautiful in person than on television.Her brown skin was smooth and flawless, with laugh lines around her eyes and mouth.She wore simple hoop earrings and a fine mesh shirt over a camisole that looked elegant and stunning.Her jeans hugged her curves down to her bare feet with burgundy-painted toenails.
Sage approached me, pausing right in front of me.“I feel like I know you.Can I hug you?”
I laughed.“Of course.I feel like I know you, too.”
We laughed as we hugged, feeling like old friends even though we’d never met.
“Ash tells me you came running when that jerk walked out.You’re a good friend.”
“She’s the best,” Ash said, grabbing a piece of cheese and popping it into her mouth.
“I was done for the summer, and coming here sounded like a good idea.Plus, she did the same for me when I got dumped a few years ago.”
“Well, I’m happy you came.And I’m happy to finally meet you.I can’t believe we’ve never met,” Sage said, offering me a glass of wine.“Cheers to friendships, old and new.”
We all clinked glasses and sipped our wine.
“Oh, that’s good,” I said.
“Local vineyard,” Ashlyn said.“They gave me a basket a few weeks ago.I helped them to book out their new B&B for the summer.”
“She’s so good at what she does,” Sage said, shaking her head.“I just read what they put in front of me.This one goes out and finds the perfect words to describe a place that no one else sees.She’s opened my eyes to new places, and I’ve lived here longer than she has.”
“I think you’re both impressive.I watch you and know you do a lot more than just read what’s in front of you,” I said.
Sage ducked her head as her brown cheeks turned slightly red.“Thank you.I could never do what you do.Managing a bunch of kids sounds like torture.”
