Page 138 of Fluke
“You made it,” Damaris says, coming around the island. “I’m so happy to see you, sweetheart.” She pulls me into a quick hug, kissing my cheek. “Do you like spaghetti?”
“Do I like spaghetti? Who doesn’t?”
“Good point.” She grins and heads back to the kitchen. “Have you met Ashley and Brooke?”
I wave at them. “I met Brooke at Honey’s. But I’ve only texted with Ashley.”
“Nice to meet you,” Ashley says, cutting up vegetables and tossing them into a gigantic salad bowl. “We missed you the other night.”
I ignore Jess’s eye roll. “I thought something inside me was broken. But I’m all healed up now.”
Jess scoffs, making me giggle.
“Moss is going fishing tonight. I’m going to watch girlie movies if you want to come over,” Brooke says.
“Yeah, that sounds fun,” I say. “Thanks for asking me.”
“Pretty sure she’s going to be busy tonight,” Jess says, wrapping his arms around me from behind.
“We’re getting you one of those fucking pillows,” Maddox says.
My eyes go wide.
“Nota fucking pillow,” Maddox says. “A pillow about fucking. It’s in the living room. Jess got it for the parents for Christmas of all things.”
Jess lowers his lips to my ear. “I can buy you a fucking pillow, though. Sounds like something we could get into.”
“Look who’s here,” Honey says. She and another older woman come from the hallway. “It’s a small world, isn’t it?”
“It really is,” I say, happy to see her.
“I heard you’re moving out, and we won’t be neighbors anymore,” she says.
“True. But I’ll still visit you.”
“You better.” She pats my shoulder as she goes by. “There’s the man of the hour.”
We all follow her gaze to Banks. He sits up as he sees Honey coming.
“Banks, you know your biggest fan, Gloria, don’t you?” Honey asks.
Maddox snickers.
“Gloria, my girl,” Banks says, getting up. “Good to see you, beautiful.”
“You’re the talk of the retirement center,” Gloria says.
The room bursts into a fit of laughter. Banks struggles not to look embarrassed.
“I have that effect on women,” Banks says.
“Ones that can’t see very well,” Moss says.
“Fuck off,” Banks tells him.
“Ones that might lose their dentures when they’re kissing him too,” Jess says, earning a scowl and a middle finger from the geriatric magnet.
Gloria sits beside Banks. “I’m putting together a fundraiser, and I need your help.”
