Page 34 of Offside Attraction

“I’ll see what I can do.” Rhonda cleared her throat. “Hang in there, okay? I’ll phone you after the trip.”

Her mother’s voice brightened. “Thank you, baby. I’m so proud of you.”

The call ended, and Rhonda let the phone fall into her lap. She stared at the lights ahead of her, driving on autopilot. And then, she passed an apartment building. Grey. Out of nowhere, her thoughts drifted to Jordan.

Had that happened?Neither of them had texted or called since that night, and she was beginning to question herself. Maybe she’d forgotten her promise to her twenty-two year old self and had taken a blue pill from a stranger. Maybe she’d been so desperate to find someone who worked at Rocky Ridge, she’d fabricated an entire human being—an entire restaurant—to complete her midlife crisis fantasy world.

But then she felt the ghost of his hands on her, the rough timbre of his voice in her ear. It made her ache, and she pressed her palm to her cheek as she waited at a red light. The streets were surprisingly dead that early in the evening. Normally that only happened right before a storm, and she’d checked that morning. The drive up to Edmonton was supposed to be clear.

Rhonda turned onto her street. She parked outside her townhouse, the engine ticking as it cooled. She grabbed her purse and walked up to her front door.

Inside, her house was exactly as she’d left it, and a cocktail of comfort and disappointment washed over her.

So quiet.

Rhonda hung up her keys and purse, then walked to the kitchen. She couldn't have pets since she was gone so much, but she'd found solace in her plants. They were low maintenance, and after killing half of the Happy Valley Nursery, she’d figured out an efficient system for keeping them alive. A little water in the saucers at the base every few days, a misting bottle for her ferns.

She grabbed her copper can and watered them, then moved through her bedtime routine. While she waited for her light peeling mask to tingle, she scrolled and checked her meeting schedule. Nothing on Friday morning. It looked like they were going to do Thursday brunch instead. So that would be a yes on hot tubbing.

Rhonda typed Anne’s name into her text message search bar, but couldn’t find the chat with just her, Tina, and Jenna. Had it been that long since they’d set up a therapy night? She scrolled for a minute, then gave up and typed in their names one by one. She dropped onto the bed and tapped out a message with her thumbs.

Hey! Friday at Tina and Anne’s is a go. I should be back before supper.

Anne

Yep, Friday is perfect. I have to be out and showered by ten-thirty, though.

Tina

Because you’re almost forty?

Anne

Ha. Ha. No, because my niece has that soccer game.

Got it. Get Anne drunk so she forgets about her bedtime

Anne

I’m great with boundaries now. New skill in 2024.

Tina

Does that mean you’re dumping Gary?

Anne

Okay, if you guys don’t like him, just say it. Don’t be all passive aggressive.

We’re not being passive aggressive. That was full aggressive

Tina

I’m just jealous. He’s taking all of your time, and Rhonda is too cool for school.

Rhonda laughed, but before she could finish typing out a response, Anne’s message came through.

Anne

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