“Why don’t you guys come to Harveston next weekend? I’ve been wanting to invite you, but I figured you’d be bored.”
“Hmm.” Blythe bit her lower lip. “That just might work. Get her away from here. Then I—we—could try talking to her about it.”
Abby smiled. “Do you think you guys could take Friday off? Come Thursday night, so we’ll have more time. I’d love for you to meet Madeline.”
“It’s just what Ricki needs.” Blythe snatched her fork from the table, stabbed a fritter with it, and took a bite. The flavor erupted in her mouth. “Damn, this is good now that my appetite’s back.”
CHAPTER 27
Abby tossed the baginto her car, not looking forward to the trek back to Harveston.
Ricki hugged her for the third time. “I’m so sorry I ruined your plans.”
“Nonsense.” Abby squeezed Ricki tight, trying to reassure her. “It’s not your fault.” And it wasn’t since Ricki’s boss had called for mandatory overtime next weekend. “Blythe, would you tell her it’s okay?”
“Like she’ll listen to me,” Blythe responded. “But seriously, dude, we had to push it off one weekend. Not a big thing.”
Ricki released Abby, and her gaze shifted from Abby to Blythe. “You can go on your own.”
“Abby already said she’d come here again next weekend.” Blythe clapped her hand on Ricki’s shoulder. “It’s working out for the best. The universe is smiling on us.”
“How do you figure?” Ricki asked.
“We’ve been so busy running around and having fun, we’ve neglected our content.”
Abby bit her lip. If the five or six videos Blythe posted every day was neglecting their content, she wondered what next weekend would look like. But it would be fine. A slower weekend would do her good. Maybe she could catch up on the reading she’d gotten behind on.
Ricki studied Abby as if she could read the thoughts running through her mind. “How about you? Are you seriously okay with it?”
“Do I have to rappel off the roof holding a sign for you to believe me?”
“Yes! That would be perfect,” Blythe said.
“No!”Abby and Ricki said at the same time.
“She said it.” Blythe gave them her scolded puppy look.
Abby pointed at Ricki. “You better accept me at my word, or she’s going to have me dangling from the roof.”
“Point taken.” Ricki pulled Abby in for one more hug. “That’s the best deterrent, imagining you hanging upside down. Thanks for being so understanding.”
They broke the hug, and Abby looked into Ricki’s eyes. “There’s nothing to be understanding about. You’ve been so gracious letting me invade your house every weekend. I’m the one who should apologize to you.”
Blythe groaned. “Good lord. Do I have to sit through another round of apologies?” She threw her forearm over her eyes. “I can’t watch anymore.”
Abby and Ricki both laughed.
“Do we keep it up?” Ricki asked. “See if she passes out?”
“We better not. There’s no fainting couch out here. We wouldn’t want her to bump her head on the driveway.”
“You two are so funny.” Blythe stepped toward Abby. “Do you think I can get a hug now?” She narrowed her eyes at Ricki. “Since Ricki’s been hogging all the hugs.”
“Absolutely.” Abby stepped into Blythe’s embrace.
As they hugged, a rapid succession of dings and pings came from Blythe’s pocket.
“What the hell is that?” Ricki asked. “Maybe I should give you two privacy.”
