Page 24 of If You Like It, I Love It

He takes a few drinks, and then he nudges the bucket with his nose hard enough to slosh water out onto the floor.

“What was that for?” Mav asks. Then he brings his hand to Oliver’s neck and apologizes. “I’m sorry. I forgot to do this, didn’t I?”

Oliver normally turns his head to give everyone full access to his favorite scratching spot on his neck, especially Mav. But he drops his head straight down instead.

“Not in the mood, huh?” Mav repositions the water bucket, trying to entice Oliver into taking another slurp.

Sabrina stares across the room. “You’re right, Joni. Oliver is acting strange.”

“I thought he was just holding a grudge against me for leaving him home one too many times, but I can’t believe he’s denying Mav’s neck scritches.”

“Does he like Enzo?” Glynnis asks.

“I don’t think they’ve formally met.”

“What? You have to introduce your kid to the man you’re going to marry.”

We all laugh at her ridiculousness while Mav lets Oliver back outside to continue his sidewalk surveillance. It’s incredibly hard to keep your personal life personal in this town, but I wouldn’t trade my friendship with these women for anything. They’re a little younger than me, too, but that’s also not the same as dating a younger man.

12

Enzo

I take a risk and show up on her doorstep instead of calling. What’s the worst that could happen?

Joni stands at her threshold with a hand still on the doorknob and a blank expression on her face.

“I didn’t trust you to answer the phone,” I say.

“So, you decided trespassing was a better idea?”

“I brought wine.” I hold up the bottle to prove my claim.

“Oh, now I’m adding bribery to your charges.”

“Are you saying you could be bribed to go out with me again?”

“Come in. I actually need your opinion on something.”

“You’re not having buyer’s remorse about those yellow appliances, are you?”

“No. It’s about wallpaper.”

What wallpaper?

We never discussed wallpaper, but she has samples spread across her dining table. I’ll have to find someone to hang it for her because I don’t do that. Unless she has her own wallpaper hanger.

My thoughts are interrupted by a long strip of blindingly bright yellow flashing before my eyes.

“What do you think?” she asks.

“It’s definitely yellow.” I take a step back and realize it’s a floral pattern, but all the flowers are nearly the same shade of yellow. Just yellow on yellow on yellow. “A whole lot of yellow.”

“I know, but that’s what I love about it. It’s so bright and sunny.”

“What walls would it go on?”

“Just the wall at the end of the breakfast nook and around the bay window. There’s going to be so much natural light in that space, it won’t look as bright as it does in here.”