Page 82 of Burn With Me

“Nah, it’s okay. It made the most sense based on where we all live.” She smirks and looks at Luna. “Except no one was going to take Luna home other than Noah, even though he lives on the opposite side of town.”

“What!” she shrieks. “He said he lived by me!”

A laugh bursts out of me. “Actually, if I remember correctly, he said, and I quote, ‘Don’t worry about it, it’s not a big deal.’ Or something along those lines.”

We all just laugh because her mouth rounds in surprise, and her eyebrows shoot up to her hairline.

We drop the heavy talk and move on to gossip around town.

Farmer Joe is planning on taking Ann on a surprise vacation for their fortieth anniversary, and Luna will be running the bed-and-breakfast alone.

Pam is going on another date from one of her hookup apps, and she showed us some of the pictures of other people she’s matched with.

Abby tells us she’s in serious talks about how she can buy the diner from Ken and how he’s excited to sell it to someone local because he’s sad his son isn’t around anymore to keep it in the family.

“Wait, Ken has a son? How did I not know this?” I ask.

I talk to Ken often since I provide him with some of the fresh produce he uses at the diner.

“It isn’t something he talks about often. Jack is my age and was just a bad egg, always getting into trouble. He took off before graduation, and we never saw him again. I think he got mixed up in drugs, but it really hurt Ken because he wanted to help him, but he had to want to help himself as well.”

“Damn, that sucks,” Pam says.

“On a positive note, Antonella, the waitress who works at the diner with me and is about Luna’s age, said she was thinking about going to cosmetology school and opening a salon and spa here in town.”

“Holy cow! That would be amazing. I’m shocked we don’t have a salon in town. I would get my hair done more often if we had someone local doing it,” I say as I drag my fingers through the end of my ponytail and look at my split ends. “Her hair always looks so healthy. Does she know about the possible sale of the diner?” I ask.

“Yeah, that’s why she brought it up to me. I told her I would be flexible because, you’re right, it would be good for the town.” She pauses to take a drink. “Also, we used to have a salon, but it closed when Mrs. Susan passed away, and no one has opened another one up.”

“What a shame because it would really round out the businesses here if we did have one,” Pam says with a shrug. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and she’ll open a full spa. I’d get regular massages . . .”

We all groan at the thought of regular massages.

“It’s funny how often I have to remind myself that you guys didn’t grow up here, so you don’t know about a lot of the backstories of some people,” Abby admits with a yawn.

“Holy shit! It’s two in the morning. Let’s figure out sleeping arrangements,” I say and groan as I stand up.

“I’m going to let Penny out while I force snuggle Ginny. I call your bed, Am,” Pam says.

“I have a spare room where one or both of you can sleep. It’s a queen bed, and the couch is also a sleeper sofa. Whatever both of you feel comfortable with.”

Abby turns to Luna and asks, “I don’t mind sharing a bed. Do you, Luna?”

“Nope, this is my first sleepover, and from what I’ve seen in movies, that’s standard. So I might as well go all in on the experience.” She shrugs.

“Just because you see it in movies doesn’t mean it has to happen that way. You can sleep on your own if it’s more comfortable for you,” I tell her.

“No, I am good with it. I promise.”

“Cool. Ginny might go in there to cuddle. She tends to wander in the spare room the most,” I let them know.

Ginny might not be the most cuddly cat, but she has her spots and will go to them regardless of who’s around.

“No big deal, she’s such a good kitty cat she can come cuddle all she wants,” Luna says as Abby nods, agreeing as we walk down the hall to the spare room.

“Well, the bathroom across the hall is all yours. You know where my room is just in case you need anything. I already put water bottles out on the counter for both of you to have water next to the bed. But if you don’t need anything else, I’ll see you both in the morning.”

I turn to walk out and say, “Night, ladies. Thanks for a great girls’ night, as usual.”

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