Page 15 of See You Next Month

Kelsey nodded. “We both know that our responsibility is to Coral Bay. I don’t think our friends would understand that the way we do.”

“I agree, but we can have some fun along the way. Can’t we?”

Kelsey laughed. “We’d better. That’s the whole idea, isn’t it?”

Isabella leaned back and released a relieved breath. “Do we need a drink to toast to our new partnership?”

“I brought you a bottle of water,” Kelsey said, reaching into her bag and handing the bottle to Isabella. “I have to pace myself if I’m going to make it all day.”

“Oh, this is going to be a beautiful friendship,” Isabella said, opening the bottle. “You will keep us on task and semi-clear headed.”

“I’m glad you think that, but honestly, I love these drinks so much that if I didn’t pace myself, I’d be drunk and asleep before the sun sets.”

Isabella chuckled. “I’d be right there with you.”

Kelsey held her bottle to Isabella’s. “Let’s have the time of our lives and show the world what a jewel Coral Bay truly is.”

“To the time of our lives,” Isabella said, touching her bottle to Kelsey’s then taking a big gulp.

“So tell me, Bella,” Kelsey said with an inquisitive tone, “why has someone not snatched you up?”

“Oh, God, Kels,” Isabella groaned. How could she tell her she hadn’t even thought about a man since the problems began with her husband?

“Come on. Have you dated since your divorce?”

“I haven’t nor have I had the desire to,” Isabella said. “I wouldn’t even know how to go on a date.” She looked over at Kelsey and saw a compassionate smile; then she furrowed her brow. “What is it?”

“Uh oh. I’m rethinking our marketability. I haven’t been on a date in forever.”

Isabella chuckled. “So what? We didn’t sign up to find love on these excursions. We’re just out for a little adventure.”

Kelsey raised her eyebrows. “That might be an angle we could explore.”

Isabella dropped her chin and stared at Kelsey. “Are you saying we should look for love interests while we’re on these little rendezvous?”

“Not for me. For you!” Kelsey exclaimed.

“Why not you? Why not both of us?” Isabella shrugged.

“I thought you had no desire,” Kelsey said, lowering her voice.

Isabella smiled. “I don’t want to be single for the rest of my life. Eventually I want to find someone who is more than a friend.”

Kelsey smiled and took a drink from her water bottle. “I am patiently waiting for you to continue.”

Isabella chuckled. “So this is the getting to know each other part, I guess.”

“Well, since we are a couple I think it would be a good idea, don’t you?”

Isabella saw the kind smile on Kelsey’s face and realized how easy she was to talk to. They may not have known each other long, but she got the idea that Kelsey was not one to judge.

“Spencer, that’s my ex-husband, and I had very different ideas of marriage. How we didn’t know this before we got married still baffles me. He wanted the traditional Southern marriage where the wife stays at home and raises the kids. To put it mildly, I did not want that.”

Kelsey furrowed her brow. “I don’t see you as the stay at home type.”

“Exactly. So I found something I was good at and could do around raising my boys. That meant we shared responsibilities of the family and even though I worked mainly from home, sometimes he had to do his part.”

“And he didn’t like that?”

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