“I wanted to put something on there that seemed hard but doable,” I explained. “I think it’ll be hard to be a vegetarian for a month, but I’m interested in doing it.”
She nodded. “I like that. And speaking of something hard but doable, I’m going to add that you pay off your student loans.”
“Pay off my student loans?” I balked, my eyes bulging out of my skull. “Is this a summer list or a bucket list?”
She let out a strained laugh as her lashes fluttered shut. “You need something hard but seemingly impossible because you have faith. And you have until the end of the year. That’s nine.”
“I don’t think I’m going to be able to—”
“Faith,” she interrupted.
“But—”
“Would you really deny me this?”
“Fine, that’s nine.” I sighed loudly.
She smirked and then cleared her throat lightly. “And we both know what your last one needs to be.”
“What’s that?”
“Getting back on the horse.”
“What horse?”
“A man. A date. Dating.”
“What?!” My voice squeaked as I reacted.
“A man. A date,” she repeated, opening her eyes and giving me a look. “Several dates. And you can start with that man from last night. What’s his name?”
The corners of my lips quirked upward as I said it. “Lamar.”
“Did you pack date attire?” she asked.
Feeling heat creep up my neck, I shook my head. “It’s not like that. I can wear my regular clothes.”
“You can borrow something from my closet if need be.”
Even though she was twenty-four years my senior, she was stylish,and her closet was flush with things I’d wear. But because she was a size eight and I was a size sixteen, her clothes would not fit me.
“It’s not necessary because it’s not a date,” I assured her, shifting uncomfortably. “He just offered to show me around Spring Hill in exchange for me looking over some paperwork for him.” I shrugged. “And I don’t even know if I’m going to go.”
“Oh, you are absolutely going.”
“I don’t want to leave you—”
“Rose will be here.”
“I don’t think—”
“You’ve been divorced for two years, single for almost three,” she interrupted. “It’s time.”
“I told you I’m not interested in relationships and marriage anymore.”
It was her turn to balk, making almost the exact same facial expression as I had moments ago. “Who said anything about getting married?!” She shook her head wearily. “You need to… have some fun with a man.”
I rubbed her left hand as it rested, slightly elevated, on a pillow. “Aunt Addy, I don’t think I have it in me after everything that happened with Tyson.”
