Page 60 of More Than a Good Friend

“I hope it all works out.”

“Thanks. Maybe I should do something really nice for her. Something that shows I’m paying attention and thinking about her. Like you made that afghan for your ex. But before you were an ex.”

“Great idea. Now you just have to think of something.” Archer opens the cab of the tractor. “If you aren’t careful, Mason’s going to be coming to you for relationship advice.”

“I doubt it. Besides, he’s way too young to have a girlfriend.”

Archer laughs, then starts up the tractor, and I go back to watching videos.

I never studied this much in school.

CHAPTER21

GOLDIE

Instead of my normal night out with Tandy, it’s a girls’ night. Tandy booked the party room at the new restaurant that opened in town, an Asian fusion place, and I can’t remember the last time I’ve laughed this much.

Joji is telling us about her first encounter with Clint when he had to help her out of a tree. Who knew goats could climb trees? And as she describes what happened, the rest of us are gripping our sides and laughing.

Lilith started off the chain of the ladies describing in humorous detail the moment they met their now husbands. Ava’s story wasn’t about when she met Mad Dog but about when their relationship shifted in a big way.

I remember seeing her at church and wishing someone would look at me the way Mad Dog looked at her. At the time, I had no idea the marriage was only to help him save his job.

As Daisy gears up to tell how she met Grayson, Tandy taps my leg. “One day, you’ll have a story to tell.”

I shrug. “We’ll see. I can’t wait to hear yours.”

Shaking her head, she gives a tsk.

After several more stories and a few bites of dessert, Poppy bumps my shoulder. “I heard you gave a driving lesson today. How’d that go?”

After a sip of coffee, I clear my throat. “He wasn’t bad, but he was nervous, which isn’t typical for Dag. Wherever he goes, he owns the room. So the nervousness was weird.” Giving a play-by-play of the lesson would make Dag the butt of the joke, and that isn’t worth a few laughs. He did stall the car repeatedly and had me worried about my transmission, but after an hour, he managed to get the car moving without stalling it. And he was so excited that he hugged me.

Bluebonnet leans forward and looks down the table toward me. “He’s been different these last few weeks. Parker said Dag didn’t go out last weekend or the weekend before that.”

“That’s true. But he hasn’t said anything to me about why.” I could dream up scenarios where I’m the reason he isn’t partying, but when I find out I’m wrong, I’ll be upset all over again. “But our friendship is back to normal now. We just don’t talk about the proposal that should never have happened.”

“I’m so glad y’all held onto your friendship.” Ava wipes up the condensation pooled around her glass. “Whatever happens, it’s obvious you both care for each other. And friends like that are hard to find. So hang onto him.” She holds up a finger. “In a friendly way.”

Daisy asks, “Have you been on more dates? How’s that going?”

Checking the dating apps has become a chore, but I do it daily because I promised myself I would try to make life different. But after my bombed dates, I’ve been much more selective, which has resulted in fewer dates.

“I’ve gone out a bit. It’s easier now since I have a car. Most eligible guys I’ve matched with live in San Antonio, so I’m not booking something every single night. I can’t afford the gas.”

That draws laughter from everyone.

Daisy slides her phone toward me. “This is a friend of a friend of a friend. He’s single and not at all bad looking. Still open to the idea of a blind date?”

“Absolutely.” Maybe this is how I’ll find my happily ever after.

“I’ll set it up.” She grins. “And when are we going to get to hear about these dates of yours?”

“I’ll tell y’all about the mood-ring guy.”

Tandy snickers. “That was the night you lost your earring, right?”

“Yes. And I’m still mad about that.” I launch into my account of the evening, and by the end of it, everyone is laughing, and Joji is nearly wheezing. “Good thing I had Dag’s truck that night, or I would have been stuck there longer.”

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