Jodi
I meant Devon.
Ceci
Well, I love you, too.
Jodi
Don’t get your panties twisted. Where are you, Devon???
I rolled my neck to ease the tension in my shoulders. Between these two and Samson, you’d think I’d have been here for years, not days, and they sure weren’t acting like I had an expiration date. I took a deep breath.
I bought a coffee maker yesterday and am about to start working on the kitchen.
Ceci
Wow, coming in hot with the purchase of her own coffee maker and a none-too-subtle reminder that she’s not sticking around. Was Jodi’s coffee that bad?
I grinned. At least Ceci was picking up what I was laying down.
Jodi
BLASPHEMY
Jodi
But really, I can keep you in better coffee. And pastries!!
I appreciate it but I need to save the cash. So: $20 coffee maker.
Ceci
Back to drinks. The whole reason I started this convo. Thursday?
Jodi:
I’m in!
I considered it. How bad would it be if I didn’t go? They’d never leave me alone about it, that’s for sure.
Send me the details.
Jodi
YAY!!
Jodi
Wait, does that mean you’re coming? Or is this your version of a Southern no?
I chuckled and typed.
I’m in. See y’all Thursday.
Almost immediately, Ceci forwarded a link to a burger place I’d never heard of. But that wasn’t surprising, seeing as how I’d been gone so long. Then I looked closer. It was the old sports bar in the town square we’d frequented when I lived here. Just a new name. Guess some things didn’t change too much.
I shoved the phone in my back pocket and opened up all the cabinets in the kitchen. Figured this was an easy place to start, because I didn’t need much and I’d bet that Gigi had all sorts of things.
And…yeah, she did. I blinked rapidly, fighting the sudden tears that appeared at the sight of the dinner plates we’d used my entire life. Dammit, I missed her. I missed the talks we’d had in this very kitchen while she cooked, and damn her for making me do this.
Samson appeared in the kitchen doorway right as someone rang the bell. He hopped and danced in a circle, then headed right for the front.
I heaved a breath to pull myself together, then followed Samson to the door. This was beginning to feel like Grand Central Station.
“Can I help y—” The words died on my tongue as soon as I saw who it was. “Aaron.” My belly clenched and my mouth went dry.
He smiled, crinkling the skin around his eyes. “Good morning.” A sheen of sweat covered his face and neck, and he held a half-empty bottle of water in his hand. A sweet-looking brindle pit bull stood behind him, ears perked and tongue lolling.
Beside me, Samson jumped on his hind legs and pawed the screen door. Clearly the dog was a better host than I was, because while I stood there like a lump on a log, he managed to rattle the door enough that it opened.
“Sorry, hi, good morning.” Did I really sound as flustered as I felt? It was like he’d put me into a trance the second I laid my eyes on him. I pushed the screen door the rest of the way open and the pit bull bolted straight inside for Samson.
Aaron gestured at the dogs. “I’d planned on coming by after my run, but Daisy here seemed to be on a mission to find this little guy. And there’s really no catching a pittie when they’re after something.”
I laughed and tried to snap out of it, the image of Aaron running cartoon-like after his dog flashing through my head. “Guess she likes him.”
He chuckled. “Something like that.”
