Page 59 of One Pucking Chance

“No.” I shake my head. “She hasn’t told me.”

Miranda swallows. “Well, there’s enough sadness around here. That’s a story for another day. Anyway.” She sighs. “I feel like I’m missing something.” She starts ticking items off on her fingers. “Movers are coming tomorrow. Everything is set with the real estate agent. Everything else work-wise we can take care of remotely. Right? It just seems like there should be more to do when moving across the country.”

“I’m sure you’ve remembered everything. You always do. But you’re right; most things can be handled online. Not many things have to be handled in person anymore. You donated her car yesterday. Anything else you need to do with that?”

“Nope. It’s going to a low-income single mother. All that paperwork has been signed.”

“That’s really great.”

“Yeah, she’s going to need a car with four-by-four and power to drive in the snow anyway, so it made sense. Not that she really drives herself that much, anyway. Her car was two years old and had hardly any miles on it.”

I pick up the box and stack it on top of another to clear some space. “The offer still stands. You can live with us. We have plenty of rooms.”

“No. I need my own space. I love Anna, and it’s great that I get to spend my days with my best friend, but at night, I want solitude. I like watching my shows and eating what I want in my own place. You know?”

“Yeah, I get that.”

“What about this one?” Anna comes into the room wearing a black dress. “There are no underlying whore vibes, are there?”

“And if there was?” Miranda stands tall and crosses her arms.

Anna shakes her head. “You’re totally right. Who cares what a certain someone thinks? Not me!”

Miranda claps her hands together. “That’s the spirit!”

“To answer your question, unfortunately, no… there are no whore vibes. It’s completely sophisticated. Not a slit of cleavage in sight.” I walk over to her and pull her into a hug, kissing her forehead.

She wraps her arms around me. “Thank you. I think I’m going to wear this one, then. It’s crazy to think that this is my last night here. Tomorrow night, I will be a Michi…”

“Gander. A Michigander,” I say.

“I like it.”

“Me too.”

Miranda takes a step toward us. “Well, now that we’re all packed up and the outfit decision has been made, I say we order some food. Should we go out with a bang and order Manuel’s empanadas one last time?”

Anna’s face lights up. “Oh my goodness. Yes!” She takes a step back from our embrace. “Manuel has this Cuban eatery a few miles away. He makes the best Cuban food, though the empanadas are the best. They come with this cilantro crème sauce that’s to die for.”

“Yeah,” Miranda chimes in. “All of his dishes are made from his grandma’s original recipes.”

Anna looks at Miranda. “It will be nice to say goodbye to him, too. He’s one of the few people I’m going to miss around here.”

“Agreed.” Miranda taps her chin. “Oh, there’s Angela from Romano’s. Her lasagna is…” She kisses the tips of her fingers. “Chef’s kiss.”

“Brooklyn and Stevie, our favorite servers from Los Tres Amigos!” Anna exclaims.

“Four-eyed Louis from Sushi Nation,” Miranda adds.

“Pippi and Freddy from Al’s Pizza,” Anna says.

“Oh.” Miranda holds a hand to her chest. “Benito from Asian Nation. I’m going to miss him so much!”

“He is the best.” Anna pouts out her bottom lip. “Oh! Jen-Jen, Frankie, and Bean from Mama Mia’s Tacos, Pizza, and More.”

Miranda shakes her head. “No, remember Jen-Jen switched over to Bubba’s Burrito’s on the corner by the Coffee Hut, and Frankie moved to San Diego with Ben. So only Bean is left at Mama Mia’s.”

“You’re right. I totally forgot, and we haven’t even tried Bubba’s Burrito’s yet.” Anna stomps her foot against the floor.

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