Page 35 of A Vintage of Regret
“Well, hello there,” his voice boomed, dripping with amusement.
Her eyes narrowed. “You didn’t just listen to that whole conversation.”
“I plead the fifth,” he said, laughing. “Isn’t that what you Americans say?”
“You get some weird pleasure out of other people’s drama.”
“Reality TV is my cardio. And that Bryson guy? Hot voice, solid man vibes. But this Monica chick—spill the tea.”
“How’s everything there?” She’d been accused of being the queen of redirection. She might as well wear the crown for a little while longer.
“You didn’t call to talk about me. What’s going on?”
“Fine. Trying to navigate all this… is harder than I thought. Throw in an ex–best friend who married and divorced my ex-boyfriend, and it’s more drama than your Real Housewives marathon.”
“Ouch.”
She glanced up the street and froze. “And speaking of Stone Bridge’s latest real housewife drama—Monica. She’s standing in front of a shop with someone I don’t recognize. God, why am I still letting her get to me?”
“Because you’ve never dealt with it,” Mateo said. “And you’re still in love with the man she married.”
“I liked it better when all we talked about was my lack of a smile.”
“I’m just saying… be careful with yourself.”
“Crap. She’s headed this way. I’m hanging up.”
“You’d better call me later.”
She ended the call and rounded the corner—straight into someone.
“Whoa—sorry,” she said, looking up. “Sandy?”
“Holy shit,” Sandy said, stepping back to take her in. She was in a crisp Stone Bridge PD uniform, her blonde hair pulled into a sleek ponytail. “I’d heard you were back in town.”
“Just got back the other day,” Riley said.
“I’m so sorry about your father. He was such a great man. My oldest loves him.”
“You have kids?”
“Two.” Sandy’s smile was about as wide as a human could possibly make it. “A boy and a girl. One’s three and the other four months.”
“Crazy personal question, but are you and?—?”
“Are you asking if I stayed with Pauly? God, no. That romance died out faster than the ink dried on our diplomas.” Sandy smiled. “I met my husband, Mason, about eight years ago. He was here on a golf trip with friends. It was a crazy romance. We married just a year after we got together.”
“What does he do that he could just pack up from wherever he lived and join you here?”
“He’s in sales. A manufacturer’s rep. He works from home but has to travel a lot. Now that I’m the Police Chief, with better hours, our life is a little easier with the kids. But it’s still hard, because Mason’s gone a few days almost every week.” Sandy had been a ball of energy in high school, always wearing a huge grin on her face. Not much had changed.
“Sounds like a wonderful life.”
The sound of Monica’s voice filled the air. Riley cringed, forcing herself not to glance over her shoulder. The rhythm of high heels clicking on the pavement got closer and closer, grating on her last nerve.
“I’m sorry. I need to?—”
“Hi Sandy,” Monica’s high-pitched voice hit Riley’s ears like a cannonball. “And Riley. Hmmm, did something happen?”
