Free Drawn To You (Paloma's Edge) by Robin Shaw Page B

you.”
    “I didn’t notice that you left me a voicemail until just now. I don’t mind getting them from you . You wouldn’t want me to feel ignored now, would you?”
    “I couldn’t stand for that,” I said with a smirk. “Did the three of you have a good time last night?” I lowered myself onto the sidewalk. Besides a few townspeople who were going to and from a small mom-and-pop coffee shop, the streets were empty.
    “I think Pete is finally warming up to Jake. We talked about how we’re missing your face already. And I think Pete has a new crush too.”
    I tittered. “Good!”
    “And he’s afraid of hurting your feelings so he asked me not to tell you. But Jake assured him that you’d be fine with it.”
    “He’s the sweetest. I hope that doesn’t change in the near future.”
    Mariska scoffed. “It’d better not. Who ended up picking you up yesterday? Jake s aid that your cousin Pierce did?”
    It wasn’t lost on me how Mariska hadn’t mention Cindy ever since she came to my former house the day I’d learned that I’d been evicted. I appreciated her understanding that I didn’t want to talk about her. I was moving forward. I had to live my own life like Cindy was.
    “H is friend Chase did.”
    “Hmmm. I recognize that sound!”
    “I like his company.”
    “As much as you liked Gregory’s company?” Mariska had finally brought up his name after avoiding it for months since we’d found out he had gotten engaged to a girl he met at college in Maine.
    “No. It’s different. I have love for Gregory. I always will. Chase and I have flirted a little.”
    I laughed at the clapping I heard in the background. “Beth, I thought you’d have this dry spell forever , ’cause I know there are some hot guys in Miami.”
    “ There are,” I breathed. “But the guys I’ve seen have nothing on Chase. And I feel all tingly when he’s close by and when we touch. I think I really get it now.”
    “Dang, girl, you two have been feeling up each other already?”
    I laughed because the word “dang” shouldn’t come out of her mouth again. “No, Mariska. We’re taking it slow.”
    She huffed. “As long as the finish to whatever it is, is long lasting, it doesn’t matter how slow the start is.”
    “Says the virgin.”
    “Hey! That doesn’t make me ignorant about what good sex is.”
    I made a knowing noise. “Experience doesn’t always make someone skilled or better in bed,” I concurred.
    “As long as you recognize that fact. When do you start work?”
    “Wednesday.”
    “Let me know how your first day goes. And how you and Chase get on too.” I heard a hint of amusement in her voice.
     
    ***
     
    After I finished speaking with Mariska, I found a thrift shop a few blocks down the street. The scent of cigarettes, perfume, and detergent lingered in the air, the same combined smell that I recognized in every other thrift store I’d ever been to. It wasn’t bad or good. It just reminded me that the items and clothes in this store had lives attached to them once, even if for the briefest moment.
    Sorting through some tops that would fit me perfectly, another girl with sandy brown hair like mine, only longer and fuller , caught my eye. She had to be Brianna. I came into contact with her last night when her shift had ended. She lowered her gaze when she noticed me and I went up to her.
    “Hi , Brianna! Whatcha got there?”
    With a sheepish twist of her mouth, she held up a whimsical lavender dress that looked brand new. The department store tag was still on it.
    “That would look fantastic on you.” I shifted my eyes from her uncertain expression to the dress. “All you have to do is have it taken in a little.”
    A bit of a smile started on her thin lips. “And to dry clean it, of course,” she quipped.
    “That too.” I nudged her shoulder. “I am gonna get these. Good seeing you again.”
    A smile still lingered on her lips. “Where’re you going after this?”
    “I am gonna