Page 115 of Delicate Escape

“Walter!” Sutton squeaked just as she hit the bottom step of the back staircase.

He just chuckled. “Gotta tell my girl I can keep up with her.”

“You could try,” Lolli said with the shake of her finger in his direction.

“Everyone needs a life mission,” Walter called back.

Sutton gaped at them both. “Am I going to have to separate you two?”

“You could try…” Walter said with a wink.

“Back in the kitchen,” Sutton ordered.

Walter just cackled as he headed in that direction. “One day, you’ll say yes, Lolli.”

She just huffed. “Who does he think he is? I can’t be tamed.”

My lips twitched. “Might be fun to let him try, though.”

Sutton threw her hands in the air, glaring at me. “You, too? Why is everyone so sex-obsessed suddenly?”

Lolli and I shared a look.

“Dry spell, honey bunches?” Lolli asked.

Sutton slumped against the back counter. “It’s the Sahara over here.”

A grin spread across Lolli’s face, and she clapped, letting out a squeal that seemed more fitting for an excited little girl than a grandmother. “We need a girls’ night. We’ll get dolled up and go to that country bar up the road. There’s nothing like a cowboy. I can make us some special gummies to?—”

“No!” Sutton and I shouted at the same time.

Lolli frowned at us. “You both need to loosen up.”

“I think a glass of wine is about as loose as I need to be these days,” Sutton muttered.

“Oh, fine. But we’re still going to find some cowboys,” Lolli demanded. “Now, get me one of those unicorn cupcakes to go. I’ve got to get home for my three o’clock sun ceremony.”

I didn’t ask. Because in all likelihood, it involved Lolli dancing in her garden naked to worship the sun. I grabbed one of the few remaining unicorns and boxed it up for her. “On me.”

Lolli took the box with a grin. “You spoil me, sweet girl. I’ll repay you with brownies next week.”

With a wave, she headed for the door.

“You know you can’t eat those brownies, right?” Sutton asked.

“Oh, I know. Rhodes said she accidentally ate one in college and hallucinated for hours.”

Sutton just shook her head. “All the shenanigans must keep her young.”

“They must,” I agreed, turning to face my friend. She’d just gone to pick up Luca from camp and had settled him upstairs with a snack and some activity to keep him entertained while we finished up our day. Sutton always looked beautiful, even when she was covered in flour, but I could see the hints of dark smudges beneath the cover-up under her eyes. “You okay?”

“Huh?” Her gaze snapped to me. “Oh, yeah. I’m good.”

I could hear the lie in her voice. “Sutton.”

“It’s nothing. My ex just found my new number. Called a bunch last night.”

I stiffened. I had no idea the history there, but it was clear she didn’t want to hear from him.

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