Page 72 of Too Far To Sea
“They inducted my father into the Blood Donation Hall of Fame yesterday. Now you know something they don’t, which should make your day.”
“You know me too well.”
“Which is why I don’t succumb to your charms.” Dana set her laundry down inside the door. “See you later.”
Sometime between changing the whites and starting the darks, Dana fell asleep on the couch. She woke to Brit shutting the front door. Dana sat up and stretched.
Brit set her purse on the table. “Now I know why you didn’t answer your text about what I should pick up for dinner.”
“I guess I still have jet lag.”
“Simone should be here in—” Brit checked her watch “—45 minutes. I put in an order for dinner. I figured I couldn’t go wrong with Italian, especially if I ordered Cannoli. The hard part is going to be not asking you about anything until Simone gets here.”
“I’ll go change my laundry, then we can’t talk for a moment.”
“That works. I’ll change clothes. If we are both very slow…”
“Then we can talk about Javier personally letting me into the apartment when he could have done that from his desk.”
“Really? Simone isn’t here for him to flirt with. He had to know that.”
“You know Javier. Flirting is a competitive sport. He has to practice. He just forgets I am immune to his charms.” Dana went to change her laundry.
After another round of chit chat, Simone arrived with the promised take out. “Please tell me you didn’t talk about your trip or especially your Captain Wentworth.”
“No, you only missed an update on my father’s induction into the Blood Donation Hall of Fame. He’s given over ten gallons in his life and he has volunteered for the past fourteen years.”
“Wow. That is a lot.” Simone kicked off her shoes. “Now tell us what we’ve been waiting for. Do you have pictures?”
Dana thought of the video and her cheeks flamed.
Brit raised a brow. “What kind of photos do you have?”
“I have a video. And well, since it’s over, I can eat ice cream and watch it.” Dana handed over her phone rather than hear her friends beg her to see.
Simone fanned herself dramatically as she rewatched the video. “And why is this over?”
“Because I was stupid.” As they ate, Dana told them the story of Chandler and Amy-Kate and what Amy-Kate said on the plane.
Brit set aside her empty plate. “And you didn’t ask him to explain more?”
“No.”
“Why haven’t you texted him for an explanation?”
“I don’t have his number.” Dana put up a hand. “I found his social media?—”
“What?” asked Simone.
“So many women tagged him in photos.”
Brit tapped on her phone. “Oh my, that is a lot of women. Although I don’t think the senior citizen crowd counts as competition.”
Dana took her phone back. “I was probably just another cruise ship COW.”
“COW?”
“Crush of the week. A term I learned from Chey’s friends. Only this time he was ordered to keep me around so they could have their stupid sting and talk with Chandler.”
