“She’s kidding,” I said. “And they’re my friends who’re visiting.”
“Obviously they can’t handle a few jokes at their expense.” Marjorie crossed her arms. “I should’ve pegged you for out-of-towners.”
“Save the pegging talk for your wife,” I said.
Marjorie gasped. “Piper, how dare you!”
“You hired Hugh for the nude drawing class.” I pointed at her. “I deserve to get a few cracks in.”
“How was I supposed to know he wouldn’t use a towel?” She sighed. “The old people in this town are so weird.”
“You guys are.”
Marjorie gasped. “How could you? Just when I was starting to like you.”
“She still likes you,” Henrietta said as she came around the corner. “Don’t worry about her.”
“I’m not,” I said with a smile. “I don’t mind the banter.”
“Good. Finally someone who doesn’t pretend to be annoyed about it.” She turned to her wife. “You and Theo always act annoyed.”
“We do it out of love.”
“You know Theo?” I asked it before I could stop myself.
“We do. I have a feeling you do too.” Marjorie looked at me pointedly, and I remembered the day where she ran into me in front of Theo’s shop.
“Uh . . . kind of.”
“Who’s Theo?” Joey asked.
“Coffee shop owner,” Marjorie explained. “He makes the best cup of Joe around.”
Mitch laughed. “Cup of Joe. I bet you’d like it. There’s only one letter off.”
Joey rolled his eyes. “Never heard that one before. We’ll check it out if Piper feels up to it.”
“When do you not feel up to it? I hear you’re there all the time.” Marjorie laughed, unaware of the fact that she’d just told my friends something I was hoping to keep on the down-low.
Joey was promising to be better, but if he knew how close I was with Theo, I knew he would have thoughts.
“I just need lots of caffeine to work,” I said.
“We feel the same,” Henrietta said with a smile.
“You know he’s single, right?” Marjorie asked.
“Why don’t we see the library?” I suggested, my voice loud. “Come on! Let’s go.”
“So, Theo . . .” Joey began.
“Let’s not worry about that,” I said quickly. “Theo doesn’t date. There’re whole posts about it in the Facebook group.”
“Yeah, I know. I joined.” Joey watched me closely and I was determined to meet his gaze. Eventually, he took in a breath. “So, the library. Care to show us around?”
ThankGod. He was finally listening.
I pushed all thoughts of Theo out of my mind and led the two of them to the mural of the town, and then the kid’s section. By then, the scale of the place was hitting them and their eyes were round as we kept going.
