Page 43 of Claws and Feathers

“So, it’s not weird if I invite you out on the lake tomorrow?”

“I –” Abby floundered. “Wait, what?”

Cooper rocked on the balls of his feet, a smile finally creeping its way onto his face. “It’s my day off. I haven’t taken my boat out all season and I wouldn’t mind the company,” he said.

She gulped. “Like, a date?”

“No, of course not.” His smile broadened. “Not a date.”

“I’ve never been on a ‘Not A Date’ before. What does one wear to such an event? And will there be snacks?” Abby’s heart was pumping nervous energy through her bloodstream, and wow, did the sun get even hotter? She glanced up, squinting her eyes, cursing the fiery ball of death for making her sweat through her cotton shirt.

Or maybe it was the look he was giving her that was making her sweat.

Cooper chuckled lightly. “It’s a first for me, too. We can wing it.”

Wing it.Abby was good at that. She winged it when her parents died, and her brother abandoned her, and her boyfriend cheated on her, because honestly, what else was she supposed to do? There was no manual for such a series of traumatic life events. There was no perfect coping mechanism. So, she glided through life, not giving much thought to any of her choices. Planning got her nowhere. At the end of the day, life was always going to throw a curveball that pulverized those carefully woven plans.

So, of course she was going to say yes. Of course she was going to wing it. She would wing it until the day she died.

“Count me in,” Abby told him, grateful for the twinkle that had returned to his eyes.

She still had questions. She would always have questions. But they could wait.

Because right now he was smiling, and so was she, and it was enough.

Daphne was furiously texting on her cell phone as they strolled through downtown Ashland, window shopping and girl talking. Abby had her camera with her, eager to capture the beauty of the day. It really was a perfect day – a light breeze, a sunny sky, the scent of Italian cuisine and coffee shops mingling in the air.

Daphne giggled beside her as they walked side-by-side.

“What’s so funny?” Abby wondered, noting that her friend’s expression looked giddy and flirtatious. “Are you talking to a guy?”

Daphne cleared her throat and popped her phone back into her purse. “Maybe.”

“One of the Gleason brothers?”

“Oh, Abs, you’re going to think I’m an idiot. Maybe I am, but… well, remember when I went out a few weeks ago?” Daphne looked flustered and sheneverlooked flustered. She adjusted the gaudy headband on top of her overly teased hair.

Abby wrinkled her nose as she tried to remember. “Oh, that night you attacked Cooper with a couch cushion?”

Daphne brushed off her claims. “First of all, it was a throw pillow. Secondly, he deserved it. Third… this has no relevance to my exciting news.”

“Go on,” Abby encouraged, eager to hear the big reveal.

“Okay, fine.” Daphne sucked in a dramatic breath and let it out with a squeal. “Henry Dormer. I’m seeing Henry Dormer.”

“What?” Abby was not expecting that. She’d only had a brief encounter with Henry, but it was a memorable one, and not in a good way. He seemed like a dog. “Isn’t he dating Maya? And everyone else in this town?”

Daphne rolled her eyes. “I knew you’d be unsupportive.”

“I’m supportive. I’m just… confused.”

“He’s not with Maya, okay?” Daphne insisted. “He dumped her forme.”

Abby puckered her lips. “They seemed pretty cozy at the bar a couple weeks ago.”

“He told me about that. We had only just started reconnecting then.” She adjusted the strap of her purse over her shoulder with a sigh. “It’s been five years, Abby. People change. They mature.”

Henry certainly hadn’t looked like he’d matured. Not only was he flirting with Maya, but he had also come on toher. He was slimy. Henry had those boy-next-door looks with a break-your-heart smile. She supposed he was run of the mill attractive, with dark hair and eyes, clean shaven and lean. But he reeked of bad intentions. “I hope you’re right. I would hate to see you get hurt again,” Abby cautioned. She hesitated, then decided to voice the question that had been plaguing her mind for two weeks. “Daph, do you know anything about Cooper being romantically involved with girls from his cases?”

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