Page 6 of Thanks for the Memories
After I change into a pair of leggings and a tank top, I wander back to the kitchen. The one thing our home is missing is someone who enjoys cooking. None of us are good at it, and we’d all prefer to order takeout or eat out. I open the fridge and stare inside as if something miraculous is going to happen. Of course, nothing does, which makes my mind wander back to thoughts of Dante and his menu of entrees.
The sound of the front door opening drags me out of my daydream.
“Hey,” Gabby’s voice calls.
“In the kitchen.”
Gabby comes in and sets her bag down on one of the barstools. Her light brown hair is pushed behind her ears with her sunglasses.
“Damn, it was hot today.”
I nod. “Endless summer.”
“Hopefully Joanna stays offshore,” she says.
Ugh. All the recent excitement distracted me from stupid impending Hurricane Joanna. It’s like a literal dark cloud that’s following me around.
I’m still trying to get used to people calling the weather system by an actual name. And I can’t help but feel sorry for every woman named Joanna. This Midwest girl still has a lot to learn about how to emotionally handle those things.
“How was your day?” Gabby asks, dragging me out of my thoughts.
“Oh, it was good.”
She grabs a can of sparkling water out of the fridge while I tell her about Bethany’s call.
“See?” she exclaims. “It sounds like she’s finally coming around. I’m sure she just needed time to get used to you being gone.”
Gabby and I have talked at length about our pasts and situations with friends. Of course, my tiny issue with Bethany is nothing compared to what Gabby’s endured. She moved to Miami from Orlando not too long ago after her whole world shattered. Long story short—her ex-fiancé and ex-best friend are engaged now. And they got together long before Gabby knew about it. Obviously, it’s not hard to figure out what happened.
Needless to say, she’s much better off, and meeting Theo has been so good, even though she’d planned on staying away from men for a while.
“Are you home tonight or hanging with Theo?”
“Home,” she calls over her shoulder as she stares into the fridge the same way I did a few minutes before.
“He left today for a business trip, so that means I’m probably going to starve now.”
I giggle. Lucky for Gabby, Theo loves to cook. Honestly, there’s something about men in the kitchen that makes them so attractive.
“I was trying to decide on something to make for dinner,” I say. “I guess we can order in.”
Gabby gets a thoughtful look.
“Or … I know I’m going out on a limb here, but I can do pasta.”
“I can make a salad,” I offer.
“Hey,” Lila greets, coming into the kitchen.
“We’re making dinner,” Gabby says, taking a pot out of the drawer.
Lila gives Gabby a worried look.
Okay, so there might have been a tiny incident when Gabby almost burned down the house while trying to make dinner. But accidents happen, right?
“I promise I’ll stay right here in front of the stove,” Gabby insists.
I’m already taking vegetables out of the fridge.
