“What? Were they sleeping on the floor or something?” she asked.
“No. They had their own bedrooms. Zoey even has a canopy over her own bed.”
“Sounds like it’s made for children,” she said with a grin.
“You know what I meant.”
“Uh huh. So what happened? You just went there and sat on his couch and stalked him until CPS called?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but no,” I said. “I followed them to his place, we had pizza and watched a movie, then we tucked the kids in before CPS called.”
“Oh my gosh. You played house with the man.”
“Catherine, you’re blowing this way out of proportion.”
“Did he kiss you?”
“What?” I asked.
“If you were playing house, I’m sure he tried to find an opening to kiss you. I mean, that’s what my mother and father always did after my brother and I went to sleep. Lots of kissing. It was gross.”
“No, we didn’t kiss,” I said.
But my flushing cheeks gave away my lie.
“Oh. My. God. You’re standing here being the biggest hypocrite alive! What was it like? How did it feel? Talk me through it. Where were his hands?”
“Catherine, I don’t kiss and tell.”
“So you did kiss!”
“Sshh!! Could you have said that any louder?” I asked.
“Want me to try?”
“I hate you.”
“Must’ve been some kiss. That flush is creeping down your neck, Emma.”
“I really hate you,” I said.
“Don’t worry. I’ll get it out of you sooner or later. Maybe over wine when I come over to your place.”
“You know I don’t allow people at my place.”
“And I still don’t know why. Fine. You'll come to my place.”
“No, I won’t.”
“Then I’ll come to your place and hog-tie you to get you to come to my place,” she said.
“Have I told you I hate you today? Because if I haven’t…”
“Emma, you’re a beautiful woman. Admit it. You’ve got that long honey blonde hair and those deep blue eyes. The rosy red cheeks and curves in all the place I wish mine landed. You’d be the apple of every man’s eye if you allowed yourself to get into the dating scene around here. Why won’t you?”
“Because I don’t want to. I don’t want to date the men around here,” I said.
“But you want to kiss them.”