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Sheila and Lisa gape at me across the dining table, their eyes almost as wide as their open mouths.
I take another sip of my wine to refresh myself. "I know. I can't believe it, either."
The three of us just finished eating dinner at Sheila's. It was a delicious lasagna and a welcome treat, given how crazy my day has been. After dinner, Paul put the baby to bed and took the other kids into the living room so the three of us could have some alone time. And that's when I tell Sheila and Lisa everything.
About the freezer giving out and the bathroom door locking itself.
About Brett showing up at the bakery and finding out I lied about who I really was.
About Tinsley Simon arriving a week early for her appointment and hiring me on the spot.
And, worst of all, about Brett inviting me to use Bash's kitchen to make Tinsley's cakes.
Trying to recite it feels more like trying to tell the story of a wild dream I had under the influence of cold medication than something from my actual real life. And based on their reactions, Lisa and Sheila are having as much difficulty believing it as I am.
"It's crazy, Denise." Sheila shakes her head, still shocked. "What are the chances of that happening?"
"Right?" Lisa agrees. "Brett and Tinsley justhappento know each other?"
"Definitely. But I meant that Brett found her at the bakery in the first place," Sheila clarifies.
"Yeah, that too."
"I mean, you kiss a random guy at a bar one night, and the next morning he shows up at yourjob?" Sheila shakes her head again. "This honestly sounds like something that would happen at Fit Mountain, not in real life."
Right as Sheila finishes her sentence, Paul walks into the kitchen and chuckles.
"Don't let my brother hear you say that," he says. I hear the sound of the refrigerator door opening and closing. "You know, as far he and the rest of the Walkers are concerned, Fit Mountain is real life."
I can't help but giggle.
Last year, Paul's brother Boone was honorably discharged from the military and moved from Texas to Fit Mountain, Wyoming. Fit Mountain is run by the now-billionaire Walker family and is world-famous for hot mountain men who fall in love instantly with the women who visit the town.
When Boone moved back to Fit Mountain, he fell head over heels in love with the Walkers' sister, Caroline. And now he is just as sold on "instalove" as the rest of them.
"Well, I don't think this is quite to the Fit Mountain level," I say.
Sheila gives me a devilish smirk. "I don't know, Denise. Don't forget that I lived through your puberty. I know what it looks like when you're mind-blowingly attracted to someone. And you were more horned up for Brett than I've seen you horned up for anyone in years!"
I cover my burning face with my hand. "Sheila!" I hiss. "Your kids are in the other room!"
She shrugs and takes another sip of wine. "They've heard much worse. If they don't know by now not to repeat what Mommy says, that's not on me."
Even though I know she's joking, I still turn to peek out the open doorway into the living room just to make sure. Thankfully, no one out there seems to be listening to anything going on in here.
"So," Lisa says, and I turn to face her again. "You're going to call Brett, right?"
"No," I insist quickly. "I don't need to."
The two women whine and groan. Sheila even lowers her head to the table and pretends to beat her forehead on it.
"What's the big deal?" I ask.
"Youhaveto say yes!" Lisa says. "This is the chance of a lifetime! You're living a real-life rom-com right now! And you're just going to throw it all away?!"
"I'm not throwing anything away," I say, my annoyance growing. "I think you are both missing the point here."
Lisa and Sheila share a knowing look. “And what point is that, honey?” Lisa asks.
