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A ridiculous smile spreads across my face.

“So, when are you going to speak to Dean?” G asks around a mouthful of popcorn. “And I mean talk, not make out like a couple of teenagers on your front porch.”

I throw a piece of popcorn at her. “He just asked me to dinner at Salt & Oak on Friday, so hopefully we can manage a conversation then.”

G bolts upright. “An actual date?”

“Apparently.”

“At Salt & Oak?”

“Sure is.”

“Ugh, I love it there.” She settles back against the couch. “That’s our next girls’ night destination.”

“You own a salon. Surely you can afford to take yourself there whenever you want.”

“Not the point.”

By the time the episode ends, G stands and collects her things.

“I’m heading home, babe. I have to help open the salon tomorrow.” She leans down and kisses my cheek. “I’ll come over Friday and help you get ready. Mwah.”

“Wait.” I look up at her. “Are you actually working at Shore Salon tomorrow?”

G sighs. “Don’t look at me like that. And yes, for half a day.”

“One of these days, I’m getting the full story on your life.”

She pauses at the door and looks back at me.

“Back at you.”

I smile, but the words sit heavier than they should.

The full story.

I’m not sure I’m ready for anyone to have that.

Nineteen

Dean

Courtney calls at 6:14 on Wednesday night.

Aspen nearly knocks her coloring pencils onto the floor reaching for my phone.

“Mommy!” she squeals.

I accept the video call and hand it to her, looking away before Pen can see my jaw tighten. Courtney hasn’t called in nearly two weeks.

“Hey, baby!” Courtney says brightly. “Look where I am.”

She turns the camera toward some fucking beach in some fucking country. I don’t even know where she is this time.

“Wow, that’s so cool!” Aspen presses her face closer to the screen. “Maybe when you come back, we can go to our beach. We have one in our backyard. Daddy says it’s a river, but it has sand like a beach.”

My chest tightens.