“Your education was lacking,” she agreed. “Hang on.” She muffled the phone, and someone called out to her before she came back on the line. “Gotta go. My mom can’t find her bag of adult booties.”
I chuckled. “Do I want to know?”
“Probably not.” She paused. “We can talk more later.”
“I should hope so.”
“I mean about the situation with your parents. That’s rough. A lot to swallow.”
“It hasn’t been the best. But it’s done one good thing.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s made me really firm on what I don’t want…and what I do. I won’t make a promise I can’t keep.” When she didn’t respond, I cleared my throat. “I just wanted you to know that.”
“I never thought otherwise. Don’t have too much fun at the bar.”
“Afraid I’m going to get tipsy?”
“Just wear baggy jeans or something.”
I choked out a laugh. “Excuse me?”
“Your ass is entirely too pinchable.”
“You think? I’ve never been pinched when out and about.”
“I know. Later, PMS.” She clicked off before I could do more than grin dopily at my irritated cat.
He leaned forward and very specifically bit my big toe in my open sandal. Then he sauntered off while I stared at his ungrateful back end.
I spent the rest of disgustingly hot and humid afternoon doing paperwork in my chaise lounge on the balcony with some music playing and chilled iced tea. I wouldn’t be drinking much of the hot stuff anytime soon, but even the iced version made me think of her.
Hell, everything did.
Later, Ryan texted me a snapshot of a pair of bug-eyed llama potholders.
Miss Moon: These screamed PMS.
PMS: Did you buy them?
Miss Moon: Even better. I bartered a pair of booties for them. You’re welcome.
Smoky was sunning himself in a beam of sunshine on the railing. At my bark of laughter, he glanced over and sneered.
Elvis came on when I was just about to head inside and get ready to go. I grinned and cranked up the music, only to lower it again when my phone went off.
Bishop.
“Hey, what’s up? You on your way?”
“I’m still in Fiji. Shit went sideways. Needless to say, I’m not going to be at the bar tonight. Sorry.”
Only one word stuck in my brain.
“Fiji? You didn’t tell me you were there. And you said you met a woman?”
“Oh, I met a woman, all right.” His tone verged on furious.