After we dropped Chloe off, Henry and I headed back to the guest house where, in between entertaining him and unpacking, I answered a few letters from Miles’s adoring fans. Wow, were some of these women desperate. One even sent him her virtual panties. Unfortunately, she was still wearing them. She got the mundane form letter that basically said thanks for contacting him and have a nice day. I wanted to add, P.S. Love yourself more. No man is worth your self-dignity.
I only directly replied to one. It was a teenage girl who maybe loved Isabella Jones as much as I did. I made the letter sound as though Miles was honored that she had written and praised her for understanding Isabella’s complexities so well.
After that, Henry and I headed into town to have lunch with my friends. Another momentous event for me. I never had the time or expendable income to do such things during the day. We were meeting up at a new place near Shelby’s boutique called Two Girls and a Guy. It was owned by three friends, two girls and one guy, like their namesake. Shelby highly recommended it. But Shelby pretty much loved all food now, so I wasn’t sure how trustworthy her recommendation was.
When Henry and I walked into the restaurant, I immediately fell in love with the décor. It was decorated in movie posters. But not just any movies—love triangle movies. I wondered if that meant the two girls and a guy were in a love triangle. Awkward.
While admiring the Sweet Home Alabama poster, our favorite Southern Belle came walking in along with Emma, Jenna, and Jenna’s baby boy, Elliott, in tow. He was getting so big. I couldn’t believe he would be a year old in two months. Jenna said he took his first steps last week, but it scared him so bad he promptly sat down after.
Henry pointed at Elliot and said, “Baby.” All my friends were enamored with his accent and oohed and aahed over him. Henry ate the attention right up.
We were seated right away even though the place was packed.
“This is fun, y’all. All of us together for lunch,” Shelby commented as soon as she sat down.
“Yes.” Jenna situated Elliot in his booster seat. “How goes your new situation?” she asked me. “Are you getting cozy up in the Bluffs?”
“Didn’t you tell them?” Emma grabbed some of the complimentary bread, trying to stave off morning sickness. “He made her sign a contract agreeing to no romantic entanglements.”
“What?” Jenna squinted.
Shelby placed her hand across her heart like someone had stabbed her there. “I hope you didn’t sign it.”
“Of course I did. I don’t want to be romantically involved with anyone.”
“She’s lying,” Emma batted her eyes at me. “Tell them what he said about you.”
I picked up my triangle shaped menu and opened it. “He said, ‘Aspen,’” I paused, baiting my friends.
They all leaned in eagerly.
I let out a fake sigh before saying, “‘You missed a line. And make sure you initial the addendum.’” I smirked at all my friends, who were now glaring at me.
Jenna even threw one of the rolls at me. “You are such brat.”
“I’m only telling the truth.” I handed Henry the roll.
“Mmm,” he said after his first bite. He was a kid after my own heart. I loved bread too.
“He also said she was fetching and if the circumstances were different, he would want to date her,” Emma informed my friends.
“She’s exaggerating. He said he would have invited me to dinner.”
Shelby placed her perfectly manicured hand on my arm. “Miss Aspen, I saw the way that man looked at you on Friday night. He’s smitten.”
I patted her hand. “Can we talk about something else?”
“Not so fast.” Jenna eyed me. “Enquiring minds want to know. What happens if you get entangled, which, by the way, sounds fantastic.” She wagged her brows.
I ruffled Henry’s hair. “Then I won’t have a job.”
There was a collective let down at the table.
“What if it’s accidental?” Emma asked.
I narrowed my eyes at Emma. “How do you accidentally entangle yourself with someone?”
“Ooh, pick me.” Jenna raised her hand. “I have lots of ideas. I can even draw you some pictures.”
We all laughed at her.
Henry laughed too and said, “Draw me a picture.”
Jenna pressed her lips together and looked at Henry. “Maybe I should tell you my ideas later.”
“I think that would be for the best.” We needed to protect the innocent ears at the table and, more importantly, make sure he didn’t hear anything he shouldn’t repeat to his uncle. “Or you can forget them altogether,” I suggested.
“Uh, no.” Jenna flashed me a devilish grin. “I’ll text you.”
I could hardly wait for those. Not. “Can we move on now?” I prayed the answer was yes.
Emma reached into her bag. “Well, I have some news.”