Page 55 of Tangled Up

“Sometimes these young men take a little longer to realize what they want.” Lines fan around her eyes as she smiles, her voice warm. “They get a few years under their belts, and they realize how lonely they are sowing those wild oats.”

She means well, but her words don’t ring true to our situation. “His oats weren’t exactly the problem.”

“Carly got all his oats, if you know what I’m sayin’.” Jessica waggles her eyebrows, and I throw a hair clip at her.

“Mind your business, Miss Big Mouth.” My face is hot when I glance back at the old ladies studying me. “It’s more now that I have a few years under my belt, I’m not sure I want to risk getting hurt like that again.”

“What you need is a good old ‘Pros and Cons’ list.” Jessica has finished spraying Mrs. Garvey’s hair, and the lady is digging in her purse for money.

“Don’t do it, Caroline.” She hands Jessica her fee. “They always find those lists, and it always causes problems.”

“I don’t know.” I think about my friend’s suggestion. “I think it’s worth a try. At least for the sake of clarity.”

We walk to the door, and I wait as my bestie locks up the salon while the old women climb into Mrs. Daigle’s ginormous Mercury Grand Marquis.

Two fuzzy heads are barely visible above the dash, and we wave as the old lady pulls out onto the street at ten miles per hour.

“They could’ve walked the two blocks,” I note with a chuckle.

“And mess up their precious hair? Are you crazy?” Jessica takes my arm, and we start slowly up the path in the direction of Aunt Viv’s cottage. “I always imagined that would be us. Two old ladies, driving a land-barge around Eden.”

Leaning my head against hers, I feel a touch of melancholy. “I’d have to move back.”

“Are you really going to take my suggestion and make a list?”

“I am! I think it’ll help me see things objectively, whereas right now, it’s my hormones versus my brain.”

“Which one is winning?”

“What day is it?”

We both laugh, and she gives me a squeeze. “Let me know if you need anything, even if it’s just a drinking buddy.”

“I’ll call you after we pass out candy.”

“Oh, shit! Are they coming tonight? I’ve got to go to the store.”

“Call you later.”

She takes off scampering down the path, and I slow my pace, looking up the road in the direction of The Pearl. I wonder what he’s doing right now, and I wonder how I could accidentally bump into him.

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

BECK

“Grip my hand.” I hold up my hand and Mr. C grabs it firmly. “That’s good.”

“Not as good as it used to be.” He chuckles, shaking his silvery gray head. “Used to be able to tear a phone book in half.”

“Really?” My eyebrows rise.

“No.” He lets out a hearty laugh, and I shake my head.

“Got me. I was ready to be impressed.”

“Ahh, you know better than that. I never was one of those big guys doing chin-ups on the beach.” He winks an eye at me. “Unlike my doctor here. You’ve really filled out since those days.”

“I’ve never done chin-ups on the beach.” I press my stethoscope along his back, encouraged by his steady heartbeat and upbeat mood. “And I hate to break it to you, I wasn’t paying much attention to your physique in those days.”

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