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“No more night’s out with you, Taryn,” Maureen griped. “Mental images.”
“Sorry,” Taryn apologized, albeit halfheartedly.
Maureen said, “By the way, Mom is thinking of getting everyone together at her place for Jamie’s birthday.”
“That must’ve been why she called me earlier. Her message was pretty vague,” Cora answered. “I hope she’s not planning to do that next weekend, though.”
“Big plans,” Celia asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Yes,” Cora said, unable to contain her smile. “If you must know. I rented a cottage in Malibu. Right on the water. I figured with the Shinobi stuff, he’d probably enjoy disconnecting for a little bit. That’s good, right?”
“He’ll like that, Cora. Then again, he’d like anything you did,” Maureen said. After a short pause, she added, “He’s completely in love with you. I’m not entirely sure he ever stopped being in love with you, if you want my opinion.”
Maureen suddenly jumped in her seat and said, “Ouch!”
Taryn must have seen the fear in Cora’s eyes as she said, “They’ve been back together for a little over a month. Let the poor girl enjoy herself for a little bit before you’ve got her married with 2.5 kids, Maureen.”
“Sorry,” Maureen mumbled, and then took a sip of her drink.
Cora sat there, ready to hide under the table, until Celia gave her arm a quick squeeze and said, “I wanted to save this news, but I can’t hold it in anymore. I think maybe I’ve got a secret admirer.”
Celia was biting her lip, so Cora knew she wasn’t being serious. She wanted more than anything to kill the awkward silence, so she cocked her head and asked, “Do tell?”
“This guy has been calling the office, breathing all heavy into the phone and hanging up. He sounds hot!”
Taryn snorted loudly and gripped her face. “Brain freeze, brain freeze. Why did I get this frozen?”
“Is that perv still calling? Can we call the phone company or trace it or something?”
“Why?” Celia asked with a wink. “It’s kinda hot.”
“Oh, lord,” Cora said.
“What?” Celia asked. “Some of us aren’t lucky enough to get lunch-break sex on Hottie McHotterson’s desk. I take what I can get.”
“Wait, wait,” Cora complained. “That’s patently unfair to accuse me of that.”
She met three sets of skeptical eyes and then admitted, “It was on the conference table. Leave me alone!”
“Slut,” Maureen accused, laughing. “You can’t even wait until you get off work!”
The conversation and drinking continued for a few more hours, until Taryn finally said, “I hate to do this, but, I gotta go home. I’m tired.”
“And you’ve gotta seduce your wayward husband,” Celia finished.
Taryn grinned and said, “That, too.
Together, they all trooped out to Taryn’s car. One by one, Taryn dropped them off until only Cora remained.
“Thank you,” Cora said. “For being designated tonight. And for coming out with us. I really miss you.”
“Don’t get all sloppy on me, Cora. I’m already hormonal. If I come home crying, Evan definitely won’t touch me.”
“Oh, oh. Sorry. Isn’t he still doing poker night?”
Taryn flipped on her turn signal and said, “Nope. Steve kicked their asses. Cleaned them out early. Evan let me know it was safe to come home a couple minutes before we left.”