Page 36

Emma holds up her hands. “Beats me. She ran into him at Doc’s funeral and has been pretty quiet since then.”

Jayson was Zoey’s high school sweetheart. Everyone thought they would get married, but college and distance proved to be too much. He came back last month for about a week while Doc, his grandfather, was on vacation or something, but Jayson hardly left the office. It’s like he was here one day and gone the next.

“Do we know how long he’s back for?” I hold out my glass, and Emma doesn’t even have to be asked. She fills it, followed by her own.

“Mattie said Doc left the practice to him. So, it sounds like he’s going to be back for a while.”

Doc was the best doctor and an even better man. The town was lucky to have him.

“To Doc.” I hold up my drink before I tip it to my lips and let the coconut liquor heat me from the inside out.

“To Doc,” Emma whispers.

We both sit in silence for a couple of minutes when Zoey comes back into the room. “Hey, now!” She sets the tray of sandwiches and chips and salsa down on the table. “What’s going on here?” She eyes Emma. “Are you showing Lucy your poop face?”

“Zoe!” Emma’s eyes go so wide they look like they’re about to pop out of her head. “Stop!”

“What?” She chuckles before sitting down on the edge of the couch by Emma. “It’s funny. Like it was bound to happen.”

“It’s embarrassing.” Emma covers her face.

My eyes bounce between my two friends like I’m watching a game of ping-pong, clearly missing something. “What’s going on?”

“Fine.” Emma takes another shot. “When I said my day has been crappy, I wasn’t exaggerating.”

“I’m not following.”

“I can’t believe I’m even talking about this.” Emma sighs on a dramatic long pause. “Fine—Mattie walked in on me in the bathroom.”

“Okay, and? Pretty sure he’s seen you naked, Em.”

“I was pooping.” Her face is still buried in her hands.

Did I just hear her right? She’s upset because her boyfriend, who totally adores her, walked into the bathroom while she was using the bathroom?

“Umm?” I clamp my mouth shut and tap my lips with my finger, thinking about if this is really an issue. “And—what?”

“Right?” Zoey chimes in. “It’s a natural thing, and the man obviously loves her. It was bound to happen.”

“Whatever!” Emma drops her hands. “He told me I looked cute. And then stood in there to talk to me like it was part of our everyday routine.”

“And that bothers you?” Zoey pulls Emma’s hands from her face. “I mean, it’s a legitimate question. If that bothers you, don’t have kids because once they learn how to walk, using the bathroom alone is a thing of the past. Trust me, they will find you.”

I shake my head. “I’m still not seeing a problem. Is it awkward? Sure. And maybe a little embarrassing.” I’m just so glad they are preoccupied talking about this shit—literally—so that maybe they have forgotten about my fake fiancé fiasco.

Emma continues her rant. “He kissed my forehead, told me I was cute, then told me about his day before walking out.”

“Aww. He loves you,” I gush. “Who knew Mattie Lincoln, professional football player turned high school coach, was such a lover boy.”

“That is not lover boy material. That’s just weird. Who does that?”

“Apparently, you guys!”

“Well, I’m not returning the favor. We can talk about my day over breakfast, dinner, while showering or in bed, but never—while he’s on the toilet.”

“I kind of have to agree.” Zoey scrunches up her nose.

“So, you’re jumping ship now? What happened to it was bound to happen?” I laugh.