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“Ouch,” Pierce gasped, clamping his hand over his chest dramatically.
“I’m wounded,” Tucker spoke, his voice dramatically horror-struck.
“Come on, you two.” Lorrie laughed. “Take us home. We’re tired.”
One by one the other couples went off, and Wendy smirked when Frieda appeared beside her and Erik, rolling her eyes.
“There’s so much puppy love it makes me sick.” She groaned. “Thank goodness it hasn’t hit us. I’d be disgusted with myself if I acted that dumb.”
Erik stole a glance at Wendy, then grinned when she smiled first.
“Right,” he agreed, chuckling.
Frieda called out goodnight once more as she veered off toward her vehicle, and left Wendy and Erik alone to walk to theirs.
“So this is what you used to do for a living?” Wendy asked.
“More or less,” Erik said with a shrug. “But let’s focus on you. How do you feel about all of this? You’re going to be a little isolated.”
“Well, I’m notthrilledabout Anita being my company,” she laughed, “but I’m glad you and the others can at least visit at night. I’ll need it. And actually, I’m kind of looking forward to splurging a little money. I haven’t had much time to do really anything for myself or my place until I retired. I think I’m going to freshen my place up a little bit.”
“Home improvement is always a positive.” Erik chuckled. “I’m glad you’re able to find a positive.”
“Thanks,” Wendy replied, smiling, “my dad taught me.”
ChapterFive
Two Days Later
Wendy looked around her room, wondering if she might have gone a little overboard on her new homewares. As suggested, she went to the more luxury-based Holstead shops and started to spend a little. She found a Tiffany blue stand lamp that she absolutely adored, about ten new throw pillows, four new blankets−two of them faux-fur lined and quite pricey, and a few other odds and ends. Her couch looked overcrowded with all of the new cuddle accouterments, and she was pondering whether or not she could fit a reading chair or even a chaise lounge in the room.
“Wow,” Erik said, startling her. She jumped slightly but smiled at him as he apologized.
“No worries, I knew you were coming; I just didn’t hear you come in,” Wendy replied. It was five in the morning. Though early for some, to both of them, it was just a number on the clock. While the rest of Leavenworth was still asleep, they were scheming. It felt naughty, Wendy decided, but also thrilling.
“So these last two days were a bust, huh?” Erik asked following her back into her kitchen.
Wendy nodded, pulling out her new, shiny coffee machine that had more buttons than she knew what to do with.
“I’m not exactly trying to tuck myself away either,” Wendy explained. “I’ve been starting random conversations with strangers, chatting with the sales clerks, and pretty much doing anything I can to draw attention to myself. But Anita either hasn’t been around, or she’s avoiding me.”
“It could just be bad timing,” Erik offered, not ready to give up on their plan just yet. “Where all have you gone?”
Wendy listed off the names of the shops she’d visited in the last two days, and Erik nodded.
“Okay, so we try something different today,” he offered. “Maybe today we try clothes shopping? Or going to the spa?”
“We?” Wendy asked, laughing dryly. Erik rolled his eyes, then chuckled.
“Okay,” he agreed, “you. But you know we’re all here for you.”
“I know,” Wendy sighed, then continued. “Everywhere around here take appointments for the spas,” Wendy replied, “but I can try to schedule it for tomorrow.”
“Alright then, that means you go clothing shopping today,” Erik offered. “Somewhere a little nicer. Anita’s too good to shop at her own stores for that. She’ll be at the outlets for the designer stores: Louis Vuitton, Prada, all of that.”
Wendy balked. She knew she had to spend a little money for this “mission,” but the entire amount she spent on her new home furnishings wouldn’t have even paid for one pair of shoes at those outlets.
“What’s wrong?” Erik asked, picking up on her subtle shift.
