Page 5 of The Fast Lane

Ellie Sterns had landed in Two Harts a little over a year ago, her little boy Oliver in tow. Her brother, Chris, was Mae’s fiancé and a defensive end for the Oklahoma Stars. He was kind of a football god, if I’m being honest, and I was a fan. But really, I loved him the most for loving Mae the way he did.

Ellie had come to Two Harts with the intention of meeting Mae and then heading to her parents’ home in Oklahoma. But Two Harts can worm its way into a person’s heart.

Ollie had had a permanent HELP WANTED sign in the café window until Ellie came along and became his newest employee. She’d found an apartment above the Spencers’ garage to rent and settled into life at Two Harts like a champ. I liked Ellie. She was a little unpredictable, a little impulsive, a damn good cook, and a solid friend.

The bell on the door jangled announcing Mae’s arrival. She slid onto the stool next to me.

“Sorry I’m late. Chris is headed back to Oklahoma for football camp, or whatever they call it. He came to say goodbye and I got distracted with…stuff.” Her red hair was half falling out of its ponytail, blue eyes sparkling, cheeks flushed, and?—

“Maebell Sampson, is that a hickey on your neck?” I asked. Okay, maybe a little louder than I should since Mae slapped a hand over my mouth.

“It is not a hickey,” she whispered. “I’m sure it’s…it’s…”

“Gross.” Ellie screwed up her face in pretend disgust. “My brother gave you a hickey.”

“A love bite,” I said, or rather mumbled, behind Mae’s hand.

Ellie grinned. “A sucker stamp.”

I pulled Mae’s hand away. “An affection affliction.”

“Oooh. Nice one. How about”—Ellie placed the back of her hand on her forehead dramatically—“a passion patch.”

Mae’s face was about the same color as a beet. “Could you two stop, please?”

“Sure. Sure.” I laughed so hard, I had to brace myself against the counter before I faceplanted in my chili. No need to waste good food. “I won’t mention that lip legacy one more time.”

“Me neither.” Ellie held up her hand in the universal sign for “scout’s honor.” “Not one word about that sweetheart stain on your neck.”

Mae covered her face with her hands as the two of us cackled. It was so fun to tease her these days. She’d spent a few years so stressed out and worried about everything and everyone, she’d had no time for fun. Chris gave her fun…and apparently hickeys.

“I’m going to kill him,” Mae muttered. “There will be no wedding. Only a funeral and I will dance on his grave.”

Murderous thoughts aside, they were so cute together. I was happy for her, truly, deeply, a hundred percent happy for her. Well, maybe ninety-seven percent happy and three percent jealous.

Still giggling, Ellie straightened. “Let me get you something to eat,” she said to Mae, and then pointed at me. “And you have some explaining to do. I’ve only heard fifteen different versions from fifteen different people at this point.”

Ellie disappeared behind the kitchen partition.

Mae arched an eyebrow in my direction. “I can’t wait to hear what it was this time.”

“First, you owe me an apology.” I kept my voice light. “You’re supposed to be around to rescue me.”

“We’ve talked about this. I can’t be here to rescue you all the time.” She gave me a shoulder bump.

I sighed. “I know. I know.”

Ellie reappeared and slid a bowl of chili in front of Mae. She rested her elbows on the counter in front of me. “Talk, lady.”

“I will.” I took a long sip of my sweet tea. “But first I want to hear how your date went on Saturday.”

Ellie groaned. “It was bad. The sort of bad where I excused myself to the bathroom and never came back.”

“Why?” Mae and I asked at the same time. Ellie’s dates were legendary…for being awful.

She pulled out a dishtowel from her apron pocket and began scrubbing the already clean counter. “He was normal on the computer. His name was Ryan. Ryan is a perfectly normal name for a perfectly normal man, right?”

“Sure,” I said.

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