AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Taeli
My head is pounding. I can’t believe I’m hungover. I haven’t had a hangover in a decade or longer. This is what I get for going out on a work night.
I drag myself into the office and find Erin seated behind her desk, looking none the worse for wear.
“Good morning, sunshine,” she chirps as I drop my purse on my desk.
“How are you so chipper this morning? You drank more than I did last night,” I grumble.
“Practice. That and the fact that Ted was so put out that I had to pull out the reserve sex last night to smooth things over. It was a workout, and I’m pretty sure I sweated out most of the beer.”
Reserve sex?
She reads my confused expression and explains, “You know, the sex you reserve for birthdays, anniversaries, and apologies.”
I shake my head.
“The kinky stuff. Haven’t you ever made an insane purchase, and instead of asking permission, you give him a blow job in the truck on the way home from his aunt Katherine’s after she notices you are wearing new diamond earrings and decided to compliment them in front of everyone?”
“That’s extremely specific,” I point out, and she shrugs.
“Anyway, I’ve been dying for you to arrive. Tell me everything about the drive home,” she says as she parks herself on the edge of my desk.
“There’s nothing to tell. We just talked.”
“About what?”
“Life,” I admit.
She frowns. “You were soaking wet and in one of the town’s hunkiest bachelor’s trucks, alone, and all you did was talk?”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you.”
She sighs. “It’s fine. I’m sure you’ll have another opportunity to ravage him,” she says before hopping down and walking back to her desk.
“Who is ravaging who?” Sara-Beth asks as she makes her way in from the back of the office.
“No one,” I answer before Erin can open her mouth.
I give her a stern look from across the room. She knew Graham’s mother was back there.
Sara-Beth looks between the two of us and grins.
“You know, I was young once too,” she tells us.
“I didn’t see your car outside,” I say.
“Hilton dropped me off. He’s taking mine in for a tire rotation and oil change. He’ll be back soon to help us pull all the decorations out.”
“Decorations?” I ask.
“Yes. Independence Day is next week, and we have to get everything ready for the parade and fireworks.”
It’s almost July? I can’t believe we’ve been here for three weeks already. Time flies.
Corbin, Weston, Morris, and Graham all show up to help Hilton set up the Fourth of July decor. They wrap every tree with red, white, and blue lights, hang flags in front of every campsite, and line the fencing with Americana buntings.
Once they finish here, they move on to help the town hang lighted stars from every lamppost in the valley and add festive adornment to the town hall and the fairgrounds.
Sara-Beth and I take several trips to the rental cabins to add a little patriotic pizzazz to them as well.
Balsam Ridge is proud of its country and its veterans. Independence Day is a big affair. The valley streets will be lined with tents, selling refreshments and sparklers, and everyone will set up their outdoor chairs to watch the massive fireworks display that is shot off from the festival grounds.
There won’t be a single vacancy in town. The motels, campgrounds, and cabins are booked out for months ahead.
I’m excited for Caleb to experience the festivities for the first time. I loved them when I was little.
When we make it back to the office, I find my phone sitting on my desk, showing six missed calls. All from Damon.
Great. I guess I can’t avoid him forever.
I tell Erin I’ll be right back and excuse myself. I walk outside to return his calls.
I dial his number, and he answers on the second ring. Which is unusual. Being a doctor, he’s not that easy to get ahold of. I talked to his voice mail more than I ever talked to him.
“Taeli,” he answers.
“Hello, Damon. I saw you called. I’m assuming it’s about the divorce filing.”
“I got the papers. I haven’t signed them yet, but I received them.”
I figured as much.
“So, what do you need?” I ask.
