Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93785 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93785 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Naturally.
Kim, our favorite server, slides up to the table and hands me a fruit-laden sangria. “Hey, Gianna! The girls said you were coming, so I figured you’d want your usual.”
“You know me so well,” I say, taking the drink from her.
“Sorry that this took a second, Astrid,” Kim says, handing her a beer. “Do you mind if I come back and get your order? I have a table being a giant pain in my ass, and they’re over there signaling for me again.”
“Go do what you need to do,” Audrey says. “We’re just catching up. We’re in no rush.”
Kim’s shoulders sag. “Thank you. I’ll be right back.”
“A beer?” I point a freshly manicured nail at Astrid as Kim scurries away. “Are you kidding me right now?”
“Shut up,” she says, taking a sip.
“You’ve spent far too much time in Sugar Creek if you’re ordering a beer,” I joke. “The next thing you know, you’ll be hunting wild game for dinner.”
“I can’t help it. It’s all the guys drink on the ranch, and it’s the only thing the bar in Sugar Creek always has in stock. I love it out of necessity.”
Astrid happily munches on a piece of bread like she hasn’t a care in the world. Funny what a good dick can do for a girl.
Her relationship with rugby pro Gray Adler has been an interesting study—and it proves my theory on love. They utterly despised each other when they first met. I actually considered that I might have to bail Astrid out of jail a few times. It got so bad that I even threatened the guy with a Taser while sitting in this exact chair, coincidentally. But somewhere down the line, they worked through their differences—and they chose to commit. They weren’t sprinkled with fairy dust that turned their pupils into flashing hearts. They decided to love each other.
If more people realized that was how this works, the world would be a better place.
“Are you still liking it on the ranch?” Audrey asks.
“We finally got settled in the cabin on Wednesday,” Astrid says. “Now I’m trying to get my home office set up, ignore the revolving door of people coming in and out every day, and learn how to deal with the locals.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, sipping my drink. The wine is perfectly mellowed by the sweetness of the strawberries and the zing of the citrus fruit. It’s liquid happiness.
“Oh, just that there are expectations in Sugar Creek. There are town hall meetings and charity events that require your presence. If someone dies, you contribute to a flower fund by adding dollars to an envelope that a kid on a bike passes around.” She flinches as if this still hasn’t fully processed in her brain. “If you go to the farmers’ market once, you must then go every week. If not, someone will come knocking on your door with soup, assuming you’re sick. Ask me how I know.”
I laugh at the look on Astrid’s freckled face.
She sighs with a smile. “But, yes, Auddie. I’m still liking it there. I’m really, really happy. It’s a different way of life—slower and quieter. But I love it, and I think I’ll miss it when we come back to Nashville when the rugby season starts in January.”
“I love this for you,” Audrey says. “Gianna and I would love to come visit you.”
“As soon as I get settled, I’m having you come out for a weekend,” Astrid says, grinning. “We’ll go line dancing and play with the chickens. It’ll be fun.”
We’ve officially lost Astrid to a life of chickens and flannel. It was good while it lasted.
“How’s the new house?” Audrey asks. “Did you finally decide what mural you’re going to paint in the sun room?”
“Hear me out …” I laugh as Audrey and Astrid exchange a look. “I saw this thing online a couple of days ago, where you take pennies and lay them over the floor and then cover it in a clear epoxy. It’s so gorgeous, and it fits my aesthetic because no one uses pennies anymore … although I don’t know if it’s legal to use pennies like that.” I start to think that through, then stop myself. “I just don’t know how to find that many pennies.”
Astrid shrugs. “If anyone can find them, you will.”
“Damn right,” I say as Kim arrives at the table. I make my order quickly. As my friends decide what they want to eat, I check my texts.
Francine: It’s a go on Mercy! Finalized it a few minutes ago.
My fingers fly across the keys as I bite back a yelp of excitement.
Me: OMG. Can I tease it?
Francine: Yes. Let’s not give out her name and just hype up that someone very cool will be joining you on Friday. That should push our live stream numbers, and then we’ll get a surge in playbacks once word gets out that it was Mercy.