“So, you didn’t like the old version of me?” I asked, pushing up the glasses from the end of my nose.
“You know I didn’t mean it that way,” Wyn said. “I just mean you finally look happy. I haven’t seen you happy in a really long time.”
“Hey, what are we, chopped liver?” Hadley asked, moving in for a hug.
“Ew, chopped liver.” Salem pressed a hand to her mouth.
“Looking a little green,” Wyn said as she hugged her.
I grabbed her wheely suitcase and dragged it to the back of Hadley’s SUV.
“It’s September. Why is it so blisteringly hot?” Wyn asked.
“Random heat wave,” Salem said as she climbed into the vehicle. “The last three days have been completely miserable. I’m living off ice cream.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Wyn said. She took the spot behind Hadley so she could stretch out her long legs.
“It’s been terrible,” Hadley said. “Everyone’s a little bit irritable. Even Jane.”
“You sure that doesn’t have to do with her puking her guts up every morning?” Wyn asked as she buckled herself in.
“That’s part of it, for sure,” Salem allowed. “But it’s more than that. This heat wave has like, put a hot blanket all over town. People are getting into yelling matches over parking spots. I thought Gracie was going to have to break up a fist fight over lemon tarts. It’s been wild.”
“In Huckleberry Hill? Really? That’s something I’d expect from city folk,” Wyn said.
“No one is safe from the heat wave,” Hadley explained.
Wyn looked at me and raised her brows. “What about you? You haven’t said much about this heat wave.”
“Oh, yeah. I’ve been irritable,” I lied.
Hard to be irritable when Brooks and I were reaching for each other in the night. Our bodies slick with sweat and need.
My cheeks heated.
“Liar, liar, pants on fire.” Wyn touched my face with her finger. “I was promised snacks. Where are they?”
“Uh, we ate them while we waited for your plane to arrive,” Salem admitted.
“Can we hit Hawthorne’s on the way?” Wyn asked. “I’m starving. I won’t make it to dinner without a snack.”
“Okay, but we can’t tell Muddy,” Salem said. “She’ll be mad that we hit a drive-thru when she’s preparing a feast for you.”
“I won’t tell if you won’t,” Wyn said.
“They just added a cinnamon apple cider milkshake to the menu,” Hadley said.
“It’s not as good as the pumpkin spice,” Salem countered.
“Well, the only thing to do is taste test,” Wyn said. “God, it’s so good to be here. Video chat is not cutting it.”
I reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’m glad you’re finally here, too.”
“So aside from the heat wave that’s affecting everyone, what else is going on?” Wyn asked.
“I can’t fit into my party dress,” Hadley said. “I tried it on yesterday and it wouldn’t zip.”
“Hence the added cranky,” Salem said.
