Page 5 of Fire and Ice
“Yeah, I can sure pick ’em, too.” DeAndra grumbled and put her elbow on the kitchen table. “One of the last guys came to my company barbeque dressed in a tank with holes in it, ripped shorts, and flip-flops. I was so damned embarrassed when I saw him.”
Chelsea shook her head, picturing a real slob. “That’s not just tacky, it’s disrespectful to you and everyone at the BBQ.”
Anneka made a gagging sound. “Ewww. What did you do?”
DeAndra grimaced. “The moment he walked up to me at the park, I turned him right around and told him we’d pick up pizza, and then go through the DQ drive-thru for ice cream, because the BBQ was a dud. After we got the goods, I dropped him off at his home with the pizza. I took the ice cream and never answered another call from him.”
“Jeez, what a loser.” Anneka thumped DeAndra on her upper arm. “Why is this the first we’ve heard of it? Summer ended a few months ago.”
“I was too pissed.” DeAndra lowered her head so that her hair covered her face, and she banged her forehead against the table. “Ouch.” Her words came out muffled. “Dating sucks.”
Chelsea smiled to herself as she stood near her sisters and enjoyed the back and forth between the three of them. Anneka and DeAndra were fun and two of her closest friends. Blood was definitely thicker than water.
“I hear you, sister.” Anneka scooted up in her chair. “The guy I’m seeing now is on his way out the door. Everyone belches and farts, but not in front of other people. All the time.”
“Sounds like a winner.” DeAndra wore a wry grin as she raised her head and sat up. “How is he in bed?”
Anneka shrugged. “So-so.”
Chelsea waved her hand, as if brushing away dust. “Not worth your time. Who wants someone like that? You’re certainly not desperate.”
Anneka put her arms on the table and leaned forward, her gaze focused on Chelsea. “Talking about dating, maybe you should go online, too.”
Chelsea’s thoughts bolted immediately to Grady, and she hoped her cheeks didn’t redden like they tended to do.
“Wait a minute.” DeAndra shook her finger at Chelsea. “You’ve met someone.”
Anneka sat straight in her chair. “She has.”
Chelsea held in a groan. Busted. How did they always know? Her sisters were too intuitive for their own good.
“It’s nothing.” Chelsea gripped the back of the chair tighter as she shifted from one foot to the other. “Really.”
Anneka leaned back in her chair, her arms folded across her chest, and looked at Chelsea with a gently accusing stare. “You’ve been holding back.”
“It’s not like that at all.” Chelsea shook her head. “A guy gave me his number at the skating rink yesterday.” She shrugged. “I haven’t called him.”
“Tell us about him.” DeAndra looked at Chelsea just as intently as Anneka did. “Everything.”
“For goodness’ sake.” Chelsea huffed out a breath, half-frustrated and half-amused. “He plays in a hockey league and was practicing when Kyra and I went out on the ice. He’s a firefighter here at the King Creek Fire Department.”
“Oooooh. KCFD.” DeAndra’s lips went from a firm line to tipping at the corners. “I bet he’s hot.”
It was Chelsea’s turn to roll her eyes. “Ha. Ha.” She couldn’t hold back the truth. “Okay, yes, he’s freaking hot.”
Anneka and DeAndra gave each other high-fives.
DeAndra grinned at Chelsea. “About damned time.”
“I haven’t decided whether or not I’m going to call him.” His number was still somewhere in her purse. It was true she hadn’t decided, mostly because the thought of him being in a dangerous profession was giving her second thoughts.
Switch it to off, girl.
“You’re going to call him.” Anneka held up her hand as if she were holding a phone next to her ear. “It’s time you get out and enjoy life again.”
“Damn straight.” DeAndra nodded. “If we find out you haven’t, there will be hell to pay, big sister.”
Chelsea groaned. “This is exactly why I didn’t say anything.”
