“What’s her handle? I’ll block her ass.” Blythe pushed off her elbow and sat up.
“You’d give up a follower? This must be serious.” Ricki shook her head. “Lighten up. It was no big deal.”
“Sure! No big deal. You haven’t dated anyone since you broke up. Two years.”
“And you’ve dated ten women, so what’s the point?”
Had she dated that many in two years? She did the math in her head. “Eight.”
“Oh, I stand corrected.”
“You’re just being pissy.”
“No, I’m trying to unwind with a good book after a long day.” For emphasis, Ricki held up the book. “You’re the one who invaded my space.”
“So I’m bothering you now?”
Ricki raised an eyebrow. “You said it. I didn’t.”
Blythe bit her tongue. Getting into a fight with Ricki about Missy was a losing game. The narcissistic bitch had put a strain on their friendship once. Blythe wouldn’t let it happen again.
“Abby has a surprise for you.” Blythe was supposed to keep it a secret, but she needed something to turn the conversation around.
Ricki stared at her, but she didn’t ask what.
“She bought tickets for Saturday night.”
“I might have plans.”
Tightness gripped Blythe’s chest. Did Ricki make plans with Missy? Blythe couldn’t ask, or it would just make things worse. Instead, Blythe said, “That’s too bad. Abby will be crushed.”
“I’m sure she won’t care.”
Blythe shrugged. “She bought the tickets especially for you. I didn’t even care about going, but I’ll tell her you have other plans.” Blythe gave Ricki a sad smile. “I’ll smooth it over for you, so it won’t hurt her feelings.”
Maybe she was laying it on too thick, but if it kept Ricki away from Missy, it was worth it.
“You’re just saying that.” Ricki crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m sure it wasn’t for me.”
“I guarantee you. It was.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I swear on Granny’s grave.”
Ricki sat up straighter at Blythe’s words and narrowed her eyes. “What are the tickets for?”
“You’re still suspicious after I invoked Granny?”
“Missy might be the only reason you’d falsely use Granny.”
Ricki had a point. Still, it stung that Ricki didn’t believe her. Blythe rolled off the bed and got to her feet. “Now you’ve backed me into a corner. I promised Abby I wouldn’t tell you and ruin her surprise.”
“Right.” Ricki opened her book.
Blythe walked to the stairs. Before she stepped down, she looked over her shoulder and said, “She found a little theater in the city doingBlithe Spiriton Saturday.”
Blythe didn’t wait for Ricki’s response before she stomped down the steps.
