AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, she may have mentioned it to me, too, about a dozen times. I thought it sounded like fun. Educational fun, your favorite kind,” I tease.
“I know, but it’s three weeks away from home, with complete strangers,” Hazel replies. “I just don’t know if she’s ready for it yet.”
I hear Lottie’s voice, calling somewhere in the background, “Yes, I am!”
I smile. “Tell the kid ‘hi’ from me.”
“Will do,” Hazel replies. “We have to get to school, but you have fun with your hippie chick! It’s about time someone knocked you on your ass.”
She hangs up before I can deny it again.
Because hell, my sister is right. She usually is. After years of too-casual situationships that felt fine enough in the moment, but never seemed to linger after we (amicably) called it quits, I’m finally discovering what it means to go out of my mind for a woman -- and I’m not at all mad.
I findthe woman in question in the main room at the museum, surrounded by a gaggle of teenagers who must be here on a field trip. They’re giving Coffee Shop Girl a run for her money in the ennui stakes: slouched in their chairs with their arms crossed, whispering to each other with the boredom of kids who have been to this museum a million times before.
Ivy, though, is undeterred.
“Who knows the reason Milford Falls was founded onthisside of the river?”
Silence.
One nerdy-looking kid waves his arm. “Is it the proximity to the natural copper resources?”
“Nope,” Ivy cheerfully declares. “It was sex.”
Twenty heads snap to attention – including one anxious-looking teacher. “Um, what?” she asks, no doubt thinking about school board inquisitions.
But Ivy smiles. “The early settlers were divided into two camps on where to base the town, but according to diaries and letters from the era, one of the founders was having an affair with a woman on the west side of the valley. He didn’t want to have to cross the river every time he went to visit her, so, here we are. Just another reminder that sometimes, people in power make their decisions for less than selfless reasons.”
As the kids laugh, looking more interested now, Ivy catches my eye across the room. She sneaks a private smile, and I grin back.
She sure knows how to keep an audience intrigued.
“How’s our girl doing?”
I turn. A slim brunette woman in a massive ski jacket has materialized beside me – and is checking me out with open curiosity. “I’m Mary-Alice,” she adds, and it all becomes clear.
“The best friend,” I say, greeting her.
“And you’re the Hollywood hottie,” she replies with a smirk.
I snort with laughter, drawing her away from the class group so we don’t interrupt Ivy’s session. “Yeah, I don’t know about that.”
“Tell that to BuzzScoop dot com.” Mary-Alice sizes me up. “So, how long are you in town for?”
“I’d planned just a couple of weeks,” I reply, knowing exactly where this is going. “But my schedule is flexible. I travel a lot.”
“Uh huh.” Mary-Alice nods. “And that rumor of a fling with Avery Lawrence?” she says, naming the highly-strung star of one of my movies.
“Just a rumor,” I reassure her. “Nothing happened. And I’m not seeing anyone else, not aside from Ivy. I can also provide my tax returns, a letter from my physician, and references from my big sister and niece, if you need,” I add with a grin.
“I suppose you think that’s charming?” Mary-Alice arches an eyebrow.
“Isn’t it?” I reply hopefully. “Not even a little?”
She grudgingly gives me a smile. “Ivy is the best,” she says quietly. “And after what the Rat Bastard put her through, well …”
“You’re looking out for her, I understand,” I reassure her. “Best friend duty, comes with the territory. But you don’t have to worry about me. I would never dream of hurting her.”
