Free Still Into You: A Novel (Better Than Series Book 3) by Emme Burton

sure to always be friendly.  St. Louis is a large city with a small town gossip grapevine, but I hide the Agent Provocateur bag because, hey, they don’t need to know what kind of lingerie I’m wearing. After I’m recognized a few times, I begin to observe more and more Cardinals ball caps and Missouri license plates.  It is a small world.
    Another afternoon we indulge in the full spa experience – manis, pedis, massages, wraps, scrubs and Vichy showers .  I have never been so polished or had such hydrated skin ever.  It’s probably a good thing too, after being in the heat and sun for several days. 
    Walking out of the spa, Jules wonders aloud, “How am I ever going to go back to the Foundation and work all day after this vacation?”
    “I know,” I agree, “I wonder if I’ll even remember what KTTA looks like.”  It’s strange.  I’ve missed work, but not enough to call in or check my email.
    “Well, I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts.  I’ve been answering emails…”Jules says.  I shoot her a disapproving look, “…and I’ve got a lot of work to do when we get back.”
    “Why, what’s up?”  I ask.
    “You’re kidding, right?”  Jules admonishes, “The Ball? The Brandon-Connelly NEVER AGAIN Fundraiser.  Did you forget? It’s five days after we get home.”
    I had.
    I confess, “Actually, yeah, I did.  I have my dress and everything.  I guess, I’m just so relaxed here, it slipped my mind.”
                  My stress level is way down from where it was seven days ago.  And Davis will be here in two days.  I can’t wait to see him.  He may never get to the beach, I miss him so much.  He’s going to be attacked by a plumper, pampered, chilled out Biz.
                  Getting back to the condo, we see Clay, Jack, Quarter and their “new” girl friends, heading to the pool.  Quarter spots us getting out of the car and diverts himself to meet us.
                  “Hey, we’re going to The Snap tonight.  You coming?” he asks eagerly.
                  Jules and I look at each other and both shake our heads no at the same time.
                  “Thanks for asking, Quarter, but we’re all relaxed from our spa day.  I think we’re just going to order a pizza, flop out on the sectional and watch chick flicks.”
                  “No.  I mean, you promised” Quarter protests. “And we only have a couple more nights.”
                  I speak up, “Tomorrow.”
                  Jules looks at me with surprise. “You don’t want to wait until Charlie and Davis get here to go out dancing?”
                  I tilt my head and raise an eyebrow at Jules.  She should know that after this many days without Davis, the last thing I’ll want to do is take him out dancing with strangers.
                  “Oh, right!”  Jules finally clues in. “Yeah, tomorrow, Quarter.  We promise.”  We both cross our hearts and hold our palms up to swear to it.
    ***
                  We meet our three “dates” for our night of dancing at the pavilion.  They all look so handsome and young.  They’ve gone all out.  No backward ball caps or baggy shorts. 
    Crisp button-ups, tight jeans (smile) and styled hair.  I notice they are alone, none of the girls that have been hanging around are with them.
                  “Where are the girls?” I ask.
                  “What girls?” Clay answers with a smirk.
                  I make a bug-eyed smarty pants face at him.  “The girls you’ve been hanging out with,” and then add with a whisper to Jules, “and making out with.”
                  Jules giggles.
                  “I think you two are all the ‘girls’ we can handle tonight,” Jack tells us, turning on the charm.
                  “Two to Three, huh?”  I