Page 9 of Mess With Me
She grinned and took a sip of coffee. “I teach first grade, so I could go all night.”
He smirked. All night would be awesome.
“There’s that smirk again,” she said. “What is that about?”
He studied her expression. She looked curious and open, not the kind to judge, so he gave her the truth. “Usually it means I’m refraining from saying the dirty thing that comes to mind. I try to keep the locker room talk to the locker room.”
“Why? If it’s funny, share it.”
“You said you could go all night. Obvious innuendo.”
She inclined her head. “None intended, but I see where your mind’s at.” She looked to Cali, who was still messing with her phone. “Boy, you’re awfully busy over there.”
Cali didn’t bother to look up. “I’ve got vacation time coming up and need to confirm a few details.”
Ally seemed considerably more cheerful than when they first got here. “You feeling better about that loser now?” he asked.
She stopped smiling, her lips pressed into a flat line.
Shut up, genius. She was fine until you brought it up again.“Sorry,” he quickly said. “Forget it.”
Cali put her phone away. “Just ignore Ethan’s smirks. Guys have sex on the brain. It’s a flaw of their species.”
“Hey,” Ethan protested, “that’s not true. I’ve got some important stuff rattling around up there.”
“Like what?” Cali asked.
Ally giggled, looking back and forth between Cali and him.
“Like the score of the Sox game,” he returned.
Cali put her palm on his face and shoved before turning to Ally. “I wish you the best in your new single lifestyle. You’d be surprised how far you can go when you really focus on your own life.”
“Single me, happy me,” Ally said in a voice of forceful determination. “My new motto. A new way of life.” She fist-bumped Cali and then raised her fist to him.
He grabbed her fist and held it for a moment. She raised wide blue eyes to his and he released her. Pink crept up her cheeks.
He smiled.
3
Ally’s first single me, happy me day was one of those glorious fall days in Connecticut—a sunny comfortable seventy degrees with a light breeze—made even more glorious by her first inspiring Pilates session under her friend Charlotte’s direction. Fresh from her workout, she drove straight to the sporting goods store for all the things Charlotte recommended and was now the proud owner of a giant inflatable ball, mat, dumbbell hand weights, and a fitness wristband that promised to report her daily number of steps. Goal—10,000 steps a day. She hit the accelerator, eager to get home for a shower and then get some steps in. It was late Sunday morning, so she had the whole day to activate her new fit lifestyle. Preferably outdoors. Fall was her favorite season and she mentally added “spend more time in nature” to her goal list.
Charlotte’s advice to take it “one step at a time” and to “celebrate each small victory” had made the whole process of transformation seem manageable. Of course, she’d meant that in terms of fitness, but Ally took it to heart. She’d be open to new experiences and celebrate positive improvement. Eventually she’d get to a truly happy single butterfly state and that would be a beautiful thing. True contentment—
A police siren went off. Dammit! She checked her rearview mirror, lights flashing right behind her. Not another ticket. She was still paying the points on her insurance for the last one. And the one before that. The police cruiser pulled in tight behind her car. She pulled over, annoyed at the inconvenience that was harshing her newfound mellow.
The officer made his arrogant swaggering way over to her. Didn’t he have anything better to do than pull over innocent citizens going just a teensy bit over the speed limit?
The man peered through the window at her. Ethan! A friendly cop!
She powered down the window and beamed at him. He didn’t return her smile, his hard blue eyes drilling into her. He looked even tougher in uniform—all business, no BS. “Hi, Ethan! I just got back from the most amazing workout and shopping for fitness stuff. All part of the single me, happy me plan.” At his silence, she added, “How’re you?”
“You know why I pulled you over?” he asked with no trace of warmth. It was like he had no memory of last night at the diner when they’d all bared their souls. Well, he hadn’t bared his soul, but she and Cali had. It had been life-changing for her.
“Mmm, teensy bit over the limit?”
“You were going fifty in a thirty zone.”
