Page 88 of Claimed By my Frenemy

“Doesn’t he get excited for everyone?” Stella points out.

Madison laughs. “Yes, he does, but he gets evenmoreexcited for her…if that’s possible.”

Aurora flips her long, blonde hair over her shoulder with a contemptuous look on her face. “Well, Zoey and I have been regularly coming for when the rest of you have time.”

Madison and Stella start protesting along with me, but Aurora smiles a thin smile that says she’s joking but not really. I don’t knowhowshe’s not dating someone. She’s been onsomedates, but none of the prospects have interested her. Unless…something prompts me to dig a little deeper.

“Aurora, have you been on any more dates recently?”

Aurora makes a face. Clearly, nothing good. “I’ve been on two, and neither one of them was even worth a second date. The pickings in Oak Island are slim. I might have to move if I don’t want to end up as a real spinster.”

“No! You can’t move!” Stella protests.

“You can’t be saying you’ve dated every single man here?”

“Every single manandevery married man,” Aurora responds with a twinkle before we all burst out laughing. “I’m kidding. Just kidding. No, but I feel like I’m living surrounded by men I’ve gone on dates with. Do you know how awkward it is when I’m in the checkout line at the grocery store, and not one, buttwopeople I’ve been on dates with and rejected come up and start conversations?”

“I know how to fix that,” I say.

Aurora turns toward me and raises her eyebrows.

“Just use grocery pickup. Problem solved. You pull up. Groceries are loaded in the trunk. You pull away.”

“Withmyluck, one of the losers I went on a date with would be the one loading my groceries. He would try to ask me out while he’s doing it, too.”

We all laugh at that.

“Zoey, any prospects for you?” I ask.

Zoey shakes her head and doesn’t say anything. We all wait because sometimes, Zoey takes a little while to open up. “I’ve met a few men I thought it would be nice to get to know more, but they never followed up. I’m not everyone’s cup of tea.” Zoey adjusts her glasses, and I see a little sadness on her face. Zoey is always so busy taking care of everyone else I think she doesn’t always take the time to take care of herself.

Now, it’s my turn to squeeze her arm. “Zoey, maybe you’re not someone’s cup of tea, but you can be his cup of coffee.”

My friends laugh, and Zoey smiles, her sadness vanishing in the fun of the moment.

“Stella?” Aurora asks, deciding that everyone needs to be questioned now. “Anyone special in your life?”

Stella staunchly shakes her head. “No, and I don’t even have time for a guy right now. I mean, with how much I’m working, I think any guy in my life would feel neglected.”

“Madison?” Aurora says, turning to her next.

Madison runs a hand through her long, dark hair. “No. My brother says he’ll take care of anyone who tries to date me anyway. He says I’ve had my heart broken too many times.”

“Oh, Wesley!” Stella croons. “Howishe?”

“He’s fine. He’s not dating anyone, either. Oak Island is just full of singles who all don’t want to date each other.”

“We just haven’t met the right people,” Aurora answers confidently. “Maybe we need a shipment of tall, handsome British men with accents.”

Everyone laughs at that suggestion. Then, the topic moves on from our dating lives to our future plans. That’s when Zoey brings up something unexpected. “So, Mia, any plans for you and Theo to move in together?”

I blink, caught off guard. “Actually, we’ve been talking about it. We’ve been looking at properties together, thinking about finding a place that could be our home and also another business venture. We put in an offer on one place, but the bidding went too high, so we’re looking for something else. But yes, it’s going to happen.”

Aurora raises an eyebrow, intrigued. “Really? That’s a big step.”

“I know, but it feels right. We’ve already been through so much together, and this just seems like the next step.”

Madison grins. “Well, if you need any help house hunting or decorating, you know we’re all here for you.”

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