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“Trust me, it’s a highly complimentary greeting. I’ve been binging Fawlty Towers lately and it’s put me in quite a posh mood.” There’s the sound of rustling papers on her end. “So, what’s up? I hope you’re not calling about work again.”
I shift on the bed in my hotel room, pulling a pillow across my lap. Ethan and I got back from Billy’s not long ago, and I doubt I’ll be moving much more tonight. The burger was better than I remembered, and I ended up finishing the entire, towering stack. If I’d taken another bite, Ethan would’ve had to roll me out of the restaurant.
Meanwhile, he put his burger away like it was a light salad. Guess he needs the protein to build those incredible triceps of his.
Sigh. Even the thought of his shoulders gets me all dreamy-eyed.
“I’m not checking in about work, I swear.” She doesn’t need to know that I’m crossing my fingers. “I, uh… wanted to say that I have another post-breakup activity to add to the list!”
“Ooh!” hollers a voice that isn’t Ivy’s.
“Ouch, Dais,” Ivy grumbles. “You can’t scream into people’s ears like that.”
“Sorry, sorry. But can you blame me? I just walked into the most interesting conversation.” There’s a light scuffle, and then the other woman speaks clearly. “Val, right? I’m Daisy Griffiths, I don’t know if you remember me.”
I chuckle. Mirror Valley is a small town, we don’t usually do or require introductions, but I appreciate that Daisy gave me her name. It erases any potential first name awkwardness. “Hey Daisy, of course I remember you. I went to school with Dee.”
“Ah, my sweet, annoying baby sister.” Daisy chuckles. “But I’m obsessed with this conversation you two are having. Ivy here incorrectly assumed the lobby was empty at this hour and put you on speakerphone.”
“It’s not my fault you happened to show up after finishing your dead lifts or whatever it is you do at the gym.”
“Work at the front desk, dumb-dumb, just like you do,” Daisy teases. “If we’re talking about breakups though, I take it you’re on the dating scene as well, Val?”
I screw up my mouth. “I’m… not sure. My boyfriend Randal and I broke up a few months ago and I’ve been on a single streak since then.”
“Bu-ut,” Ivy sings. “She happens to be on a road trip right now, and not alone. Do you remember Ethan Holmes from school?”
“He was in Dee’s grade too, right? Didn’t he used to hang out with Noah?”
“Noah was his gym buddy,” I volunteer for some reason. “Ethan and I were best friends back then.”
“OOH!” Daisy crows. “I love a good friends-to-more kinda story! And besides, you two are clearly meant to be, Van.”
So much for avoiding first name awkwardness. “It’s Val, actually.”
“No, Van,” Daisy says again with more passion. “Your couple name.”
“Our what?”
“You’ve never heard of couple names? Well, you two are clearly meant to be because Val plus Ethan combines to make Van. Well, Vathan, actually, but that’s not as catchy. And you two are on a road trip. See? Perfect.”
I stifle a laugh. It’s some whacked out reasoning, but I appreciate Daisy’s enthusiasm.
“That’s ridiculous and you know it.” Ivy sighs. “Couple names mean nothing.”
“You wait ‘til you meet a swoony guy whose name matches with yours. Val, what did you say your ex’s name was?”
“Randal.”
“Oh. Oh no, that’s no good. No one wants to be a ‘Vandal.’”
“Daisss!” Ivy groans.
“Okay, okay. So, tell us what’s happening with this hottie nomadic friend of yours.”
“He’s none of those things.” I chuckle. “Okay, he’s not nomadic, but I guess the rest is pretty accurate.” Heat rises to my cheeks and I fiddle with the purple pillow tassel as I remember being pressed against Ethan at the water park. The moment I saw something I could only describe as fire in his eyes.
He wanted to kiss me, I know he did. I’m just not sure how I’m supposed to feel about that.
