I rolled my eyes.“You’re not missing anything.But I am bored.I need to get out of here and do something.”
She grinned.“I wondered how long it was going to take you to be annoyed sitting around.You lasted longer than I expected.”
I snorted.“I haven’t had this much free time in years.”
“I know.Do you want to come to work with me next week?”
“Bring your bestie to work day?”I teased her.
“Only if your bestie is awesome.”
I laughed.“Sure.But I need to find something else to do all summer.I don’t want to just invade your work.”
“No one will care.Plus, I have a few potential new client meetings and some walk-throughs, so I’ll be in and out.”
“Sounds good.What are we doing this weekend?Do you have to work tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I work tomorrow.Saturday, we’re going to the party,” Ashlyn said, tilting her head in question.
“Oh, I forgot you were going to that.Sorry.”
“You’re going, too.”
“What?Why?I don’t know them.”
“Yeah, but it’s in my backyard.”She pointed to the massive tent that covered most of her yard and half of Josh’s.“Josh won’t care if there’s one more person there.”
“We’ll see.”
“Are you worried he’s going to yell at you again?I told you weeks ago I talked to him.”
“I know.It’s fine.”
Ashlyn looked closely at me again.“It’ll be fun.I promise.”
Ashlyn did not letup all day Friday or Saturday morning before the party.She insisted we needed to both go.That it would be rude to stay home when everyone else was basically in her yard.
I knew she was right, but I felt weird going to Josh’s daughter’s graduation party when I wasn’t invited and we hadn’t spoken in two weeks.If he was brushing me off, showing up at the party was a sure way to be the kind of woman I refused to be.
But Ashlyn didn’t know any of that, so I changed into a pair of jean shorts and a high-neck top that was loose and light and would be comfortable for an afternoon and evening outside.
Almost as soon as we walked out, a young woman with dark blonde hair and stunning green eyes bounced over to us.“Hi, Ashlyn!I’m so happy you could come.”
“I wouldn’t miss it, Evie.”Ashlyn hugged the graduate tightly.“This is my best friend, Reegan.She’s staying with me for the summer.”
“Nice to meet you,” Evie said, offering me her hand.
“You, too.Congratulations.”I shook the girl’s hand, surprised by the strength in her grip and confidence.
“Thanks.I am so relieved to be done with high school.”She groaned like she’d endured the worst life had to offer.“College is going to be so great.”
“Don’t let your dad hear you say that,” Ashlyn teased Evie.
Evie snorted.“Right?He’s already freaking out about everything.”Car doors slammed, and the squeal of teenagers drew Evie’s attention.“I’ll talk to you guys later.”She raced to the driveway where she met two other girls in a hug that almost toppled the three of them and left them laughing.
“She seems sweet.”
“She is.I don’t know how with a mother like hers, but I’m guessing Josh had a bigger hand in it,” Ashlyn mumbled as we walked across the yard to where a table was set up for gifts.Ashlyn set a wrapped package on the growing pile.“I put your name on the card.She had a gift registry.Stuff she’ll need for college.”
