Recalling Tyrone’s comment that everyone was in therapy, I asked, “So iseveryonehere your patient?”
She nodded slowly. “More than a few. It’s a problem.”
“You’re like the town priest,” I commented. Therapy might as well be a religion, though you were supposed to look inside for answers instead of looking to God. At any rate, she held all the town’s secrets, including mine. “You should probably move to Burlington.”
She nodded. “Probably.”
“Heaven, what do you do?” Dr. R asked.
“I’m an influencer,” Heaven said with just the slightest hint of a pose. “It’s kind of killing me not to be recording this. I feel naked without my phone.”
Dr. R smiled warmly. “I’m glad to meet you. Don’t you feel like it’s harder to connect with a phone in the middle all the time?”
Heaven relaxed and said, “I’ve heard that before, actually.”
Gemma had yelled that loud enough for me to hear. Lol.
Dr. R smiled. “But I’m going to follow you. What’s your handle?” As Heaven spelled outRadianceGlobalLifeCoaching, Dr. R typed it into TikTok. With a smile, she said, “Got it, I’ll stalk you later.”
Heaven preened. “Where’d you find that cocktail, Dr. R?”
“Call me Eleanor.”
It was weird to see Dr. R at a party. Maybe it was me, but it seemed like Dr. R and Heaven should go out to dinner instead of starting a therapeutic relationship.
Across the room, I spotted Tyrone in a pair of slacks and a button-down shirt emblazoned with the St. Nicholas Farms logo. He smiled shyly and gave me a low-key wave. A couple of days ago, I had a strong plan and some confidence, misplaced maybe, but confidence nonetheless. Ithad been almost a week of no communication since our date from hell.
Looking nervously in Tyrone’s direction, I asked Heaven, “What do I do?”
“Take him out to the dance floor and grind up on him.” Heaven explained this like it was science.
“Grind up on him?” She made it sound simple. I knew some folk dances and was a competent waltzer. I’d been meaning to practice twerking ever since it got popular. It was on my list of things to do along with cancel unnecessary subscriptions.
Tyrone solved the problem for me. He walked across the room toward us. Like a normal person, he smiled and said, “Hey, Tiff. You know you can’t ghost people in small towns. It’s just not practical.”
I fiddled with the edge of the sleeve of my Arwen dress. “I’m sorry I disappeared after our night. I—”
“Is everything okay?” he asked. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” I touched a hand to his arm, uncertain of what to say next. “I was embarrassed for getting so out of control.” To put it lightly. “I was too much.”
His lips quirked into an amused smile. “Tiff, if that’s all you’re worried about, relax. I’m fine.” Leaning in close, he whispered, “If you’re into kinky stuff, that’s okay. No shame.”
Oh, Tyrone. He was so sweet. If only I was simply kinky. I couldn’t still be biting people like it was the 1800s. I didn’t even do that then.
“Bring your checkbook?” he asked.
“Yes.” I smiled big. “And there’s something else. I have a lot to tell you. A lot.”
Jessica interrupted me with a tap on the shoulder and handed me a paddle with a number on it from a basket.
“What’s this?” I held the paddle up.
“It’s forthe auction, you freak.”
When Jessica moved on, Tyrone said, “I just want you to know—” But before he could finish his sentence, the music changed to somethingfast-paced. For a second we stood as people went wild around us, leaving us unsure whether to finish our conversation or dance. Tyrone chose dancing. He shifted easily, moving with the music, not doing too much. He handled it like a human who had been born in the last forty years.
From the corner of the room, I saw Heaven pantomiming a dance move for me to follow. Was she helping me or setting me up? Either way, I knew my limits.
