Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 85484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
“I know you can use DoorDash.” I laugh. “But I won’t be here to eat these, so …”
She reaches for the containers. “I’m not turning down homemade peppers.” She takes them from me. “You are such a sweet girl.”
The compliment catches me off guard after the conversation I just had with Mom.
“Where are you going?” she asks, putting the food in the fridge.
“Work trip to Silver Springs.”
“Ah, fun. I just met a woman, Gloria, at the retirement center. She’s been coming in the morning and walking with me. She got us a game of euchre tomorrow with a couple of other ladies. And she arranged for us to have a table that overlooks the pool.” She smirks. “We’re going to play cards and watch the pool for single men.”
I laugh. “Sounds like a good time.”
“She’s a riot. She’s on an arts committee dedicated to bringing art and music back to the schools. Did you know they took it out a few years ago?”
I shake my head.
“Well, apparently, they did, and Gloria isn’t having it. She’s organized a whole event around this—food, music, a silent auction. A bachelor auction.”
“What?” I ask, laughing again.
“I know. She’s a wild one.”
Honey pulls out a chair and sits, motioning for me to sit too.
“I really have to go,” I say. “My ride will be showing up any time.”
“Understood. Thank you for the peppers, sweetheart.”
“Of course.”
I turn to leave. As I face the door, a woman walks in. For a moment, she seems shocked to see me. But she quickly gathers herself.
“Hi,” she says, smiling brightly.
“Oh, Bee. You’re just in time.” Honey gets up and stands beside me. “Brooke, this is my neighbor, Pippa. Pippa, this is my granddaughter, Brooke.”
Brooke smiles knowingly. “Okay, I’m going out on a limb here, but are you seeing Jess Carmichael, by any chance? Because there can only be so many Pippas in the world.”
“Actually, I am. Well, sort of. We’re seeing each other but not really?” I shrug, wishing I had a better explanation.
“Heads-up that Damaris has made you family. She takes Maddox’s wife, Ashley, and me out to lunch once a month—and we do a little shopping or whatever. Anyway, we’re going later this week and she’s already mentioned inviting you.”
I gulp. She did?
My face grows hot as I try to choose which part of this to focus on. Do I lean into the oh, my gosh, this is going entirely too fast and is getting out of control? Or do I ignore that and hear what she just said—“Damaris has made you family.”
Brooke giggles. “I’ve worked for their family for years—well before Moss and I became a thing. So I understand what you’re feeling right now because I had the same experience.” She shrugs. “Once they mark you as theirs, there’s really nothing you can do about it.”
“You didn’t tell me anything about a boyfriend,” Honey says, a hand on her hip. “What am I, chopped liver?”
Brooke and I laugh.
“I know that Jess Carmichael,” Honey says. “And he’s a …” She whistles. “Back in my day, we would’ve called him a hunk.”
“Honey …” Brooke says cackling.
I love this—this feeling of being included. I barely know these people, really, and they’re treating me like I’m a part of the group. Part of the family. But I don’t know what to do with it.
Especially because … I’m not.
“Kixx has decided you’re his favorite out of us,” Brooke says, grinning.
“Really?”
“Apparently, you have the same sense of humor.”
I bite back a smile. “I made a joke about Jess’s big cock.”
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Honey says, nodding her approval.
I can’t stop the giggle that pours out of me.
Brooke snorts. “I’ll explain later, Honey.” She leans back and looks out the window. “Jess is at your house.”
My heart leaps in my chest and, suddenly, I forget about everything else but him.
No nasty mothers. No rotting veggies. No lunch invitations that I hope I get but also don’t.
I kiss Honey on the cheek. “I’ll see you when I get back. Brooke, it was nice to meet you.”
“I’m sure I’ll see you around.” She smiles. “Thanks for looking out for Honey. She’s talked about you nonstop since you moved in.”
I think it’s more like Honey adopted me, not the other way around. Somehow, she just knew I needed a Honey in my life too—and she stepped to the plate. Well, with a plate—of pork chops, but it’s the same thing, really.
What a wonderful, woman. I want to be like her when I grow up.
“It’s not a chore to hang out with her.”
Honey pats my arm. “It’s kismet, don’t you think?”
“What?”
She grins. “Nothing.”
“Go,” Brooke says, laughing. “You have a hunk, as my grandmother likes to say, waiting on your doorstep.”
That, I do. “I’ll see you two later.”
“Be safe, sweetheart,” Honey says.
“I’ll see you soon, I’m sure,” Brooke says with a wink.