Page 64 of Forever to Fall
“I’m still recovering from my heart attack to remember what that was.” Mallory winked.
“Yeah, nice try. I asked if you guys talked.”
“Among other things,” Mallory retorted, unable to hide her satisfied grin.
Alice tossed a throw pillow at Mallory’s head and squealed. “Start. Talking. Now. I have to be at the library in ten minutes, and I need as much gossip as possible. Or at least enough to compete with the busy bodies of Buckeye Falls.”
Mallory paused, her post-Beckett flush fading to a green pallor. “What do you mean, the busy bodies?”
Alice scoffed. “Mal, need I remind you about my own dating history in this town? There are no secrets.”
“Beckett and I are friends,” she started, hating the lie on her tongue.
“No, honey. You and I are friends. You two are clearly more.” Alice toyed with the edge of a throw pillow before continuing. “At the library last night, Lynn mentioned that Mrs. Sanders saw you leaving his place in the”—she held up her hands to do air quotes—“wee hours of the morning.”
Mallory groaned, covering her face to hide from the news. “What are the odds the gossip doesn’t make it to the diner?” Not only was the diner the best restaurant in town, but it was also the hub of the town’s gossip mill. The only competition might be Alice’s sister-in-law’s house, but she wasn’t going to bring Natalie into this. While the nicest woman, she loved to delve into the gossip—as long as she wasn’t the focus.
“Do you really want me to answer that?” Alice asked, a frown marring her lovely face. Mallory loved her friend, truly.
“How is Evan and CeCe’s wedding not the talk of the town?”
“Pfft.” Alice flapped a hand, her trademark smirk in place. “Everyone is excited, but that’s not news. They’ve been in love for a while, and unless one of them runs off to Elm River with someone else, no one will bat an eye. Now you know what is hot gossip? The maid of honor and the best man shacking up.”
“We are not shacking up.” Mallory countered, the flush back in her cheeks. Why was she such a bad liar?
“Um, do I need to pick up a dictionary at the library for you? You’re literally doing a walk of shame.” Her friend gestured to her crumpled clothes from the night before, and Mallory conceded the point.
“I’m going to need to tell Evan, aren’t I?”
Alice cocked her head and examined Mallory’s pinched expression. “The engagement party is this weekend, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I think you need to tell him, both of you, after that. The guy is in love, let him have his moment with his lady, but then you need to fess up.”
“Remember the good old days?” Mallory asked, head tossed back and staring at the ceiling.
Alice shook her head. “What good old days?”
“When you’d barge into the hospital ranting and raving about your love life.” That statement earned Mallory another pillow toss to the head. “Hey.” She batted away the offending cushion and laughed. “I should have saved the security footage. Then I could remind you that you’re not always right.”
Alice pulled herself to her feet, holding out a hand for Mallory. “C’mon, honey. You need to get ready for work, and I’m running late. Just remember, for once I’m right, and you need to talk to Beckett. Buckeye Falls is about to burst your bubble.”
Mallory walked Alice to the door and gave her a hug. Just a year ago, this woman was a stranger, and now she couldn’t imagine her life without her. “I miss you, Alice. Once this is settled, I’d love for you and James to double date with us.”
“I’d love nothing more.” Alice pulled back and sighed. “But first, work and real life. Then the four of us will do something fabulous.”
“It’s a date.”
Once Alice was ushered back outside, Mallory ran into the bathroom for quite possibly the fastest shower in recorded history. She was in the middle of braiding her hair when her phone rang. Using her elbow, she answered the call and put it on speaker.
“Hey, Em. I’m getting ready for work. Is everything okay?”
Through the line, she heard her sister snort. “Oh yeah, peachy. I was just calling about a few odds and ends for the engagement party.”
At the sound of another voice, Fernando sauntered into the bathroom to investigate. He jumped up onto the sink and tiptoed around her phone, makeup bag, and collection of hairbrushes. With her hands occupied with her hair, Mallory didn’t have a chance to pet the beast before he grew agitated.
“Don’t even think about it.” Mallory warned as Fernando’s paw went in the air to strike. Only a week ago, she was fishing some of her favorite lipsticks out of the toilet when he went on a spree. Using her foot, she flipped down the toilet seat.
