Page 91 of Mail Order Splash

Chapter Twenty-Three

KLEINE

Sitting in the limo with Murphy while she was on her cell, my mind wandered to earlier in the day when I was swimming back through from one pool to the other and heard Asher talking to Dalton about not needing to marry me. It wasn’t right of me to listen but I couldn’t help myself. I wasn’t able to hear everything but I had heard the words “leaving”, “living different places”, and “marriage of convenience”. It made me laugh, remembering Josh finding me treading water, listening to the conversation. He’d startled me by saying “are you practicing for the Olympics down there, or are you stuck?”

That didn’t take long. He’s planning on leaving already? Did he call me stubborn?

“Sorry, last bit of work stuff. I like that dress you’re wearing. Very party girl.” Murphy was off her call. “Sydney’s pick, isn’t it?”

“It is. The color’s nice but I’m not much of a short dress girl.”

“With those killer legs, why not?” Murphy put on lipstick. “Did you get clothes for your honeymoon?”

“Sydney sent over some basic stuff but said we had to let her know where we were going.”

“Where are you going?” She handed me her lipstick. “You want to put some on?”

“No thanks, I prefer none. You look great in it.”

“Yeah, I do,” she agreed. “Wait, didn’t you decide on California?”

“We did before all the madness with the city and the dolphins. Right now I’m not sure I wanna leave them.”

“Do you like him?” She blurted out. “I know you like him, everyone likes him, but do you like him, like him?”

“I was attracted to him immediately, then day by day I liked his personality. Now I have to admit I miss when he’s not around.”

“Then you really like him. I’m so glad. He’s my favorite. He makes me laugh all the time.”

“Don’t forget him being your dance partner,” I added. “What did you plan for us tonight?”

“With Mom tagging along, nothing too exciting. Do you have a request?”

“Are you saying we’re driving aimlessly?” I chuckled. “Doesn’t seem like you.”

“You’ve gone and figured me out. I thought we’d go to that new night club downtown.”

“Sounds like fun.” I slid over when the door opened for Victoria.

“Now that we’re all here, I wanted to tell you that tonight we’ll be doing karaoke.”

“Murphy, I will not be singing,” Victoria demanded.

“Mom, this evening was your idea. You said plan anything I wanted.”

“Fine, fine, I’ll be the one clapping for the two of you.”

“No, we’ll be clapping for Murphy. I’m not participating.”

“Then we’ll do something else,” she huffed.

“Murphy, I really want to hear you sing. I’m not much of a club person, so let’s go check out this new place.”

“Really? You won’t regret it.”

She had been correct, I hadn’t regretted it. Murphy was bold and daring and didn’t care what anyone thought of her. Two hours into the night, Victoria went home, leaving me sitting at a table by myself while Murphy fluttered about the room chatting with just about everyone. I wasn’t mad. I had nowhere else to be and, if I’d been home, I would have missed what came next.

Oh, my goodness, that’s Charlie and Bobby up there. Do they even know we’re here?

---