Page 67 of Hello Stranger

All I could think to say was “Why?”

“Because I’ve decided he’s my future husband.”

Hey. That was my thing.Iwas the person with a future husband.

“Future husband?” My body was suddenly filled with tiny firecrackers: a flash of jealousy; a flash of protectiveness; and then a final flash ofHell, no.

Now, I didn’t know Joe all that well. And it’s fair to say I’d had a lot of conflicting feelings about him since that red-and-white bowling jacket of his came onto my radar. And my jury was still out on whether he was a good guy or the full opposite.

But I would never in a million years sic Parker on him.

That was just basic human decency.

“I think he’s dating someone,” I said.

“So?”

“So, I think he’s taken.”

“So?”

“So…” The fact that I had to explain this was the exact reason why she was never getting his info. “It would be morally wrong of you to pursue a man who’s already seeing someone else.”

Parker did not take kindly to my obstructionism. “Are you the cheating police?”

“I’m just not going to help you with anything, Parker. Ever. For any reason.”

I could feel more than see Parker narrowing her face in suspicion. “You like him, don’t you?”

What? “No.”

“The way you say no is a clear yes.”

“I am protecting that guy from you the way I would protect any random stranger off the street.”

“Any random stranger you had a thing for.”

“No.”

“Oh my god!” she said then with a thrilled gasp. “Is he the one who stood you up?”

“No one stood me up,” I said.

“You’re a hilariously bad liar.”

Why was I even talking to her? I should have left the second I sensed who she was. “Just—fuck off, Parker. Okay? Can you do that?”

“Not until you give me his number.”

And that’s when we both heard a ding coming from my little purse, which had been hanging mutely from my shoulder this entire time, with the zipper unzipped and my cell phone sticking partly out. And the screen now lit up for us all to see.

There was a text on the screen:This is the front desk at Petopia Vet Clinic.

Then another quick ding:An emergency case came in just as Dr. Addison was leaving.

Then a final:He asked us to let you know.

This was the text I’d been waiting for the entire eternity of the last hour—but I didn’t even have time to respond before Parker reached out to try to snatch my phone. Like it might be a message from Joe.

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