Page 88 of Passion at the Lake

After he left, Julie lay down by the door with her snout against the crack at the base.

“I didn’t want him to leave either,” I told her.

After pacing the small shack for a minute, I talked myself into putting how I felt into words. Powering on my phone to send a text to the Laurie and Debbie, I pondered what to say.

Izzy barked.

I bobbled the phone.

The door squeaked open again.

It was Boone. He rushed over, leaned down, and brushed his lips to mine. “Forgot to kiss you before leaving. Forgive me?”

“This one time,” I joked with a smile I couldn’t hide.

A second later he was gone again, and I picked my phone up with new words in mind.

ME: I think I found my Lancelot

Lying back, I couldn’t stop the warm smile typing those words caused. A response came more quickly than I expected.

LAURIE: Rebound fling time - ride him hard and fast

And then a second.

DEBBIE: Agreed rebounds are best quick. It’s easier if you end it.

LAURIE: That’s what I said

DEBBIE: Which makes him not Lancelot

LAURIE: Duh

They were sure he wasn’t my Lancelot. And they didn’t agree on much of anything very often. Fine. So, if he wasn’t Lancelot, at least he could be a knight in shining armor.

Could this be a rebound? Wasn’t that supposed to be with a random guy? If it was a rebound, how could I tell? And if I was leaving for Florida, did it matter what I called this fling?

Short and sweet with no regrets—how hard could that be?

Boone could be a nice guy without being my Lancelot. What’s in a name anyway?

LAURIE: You’re being quiet. Does that mean you’ve already ridden him?

I started to type a response, but was interrupted by Debbie.

DEBBIE: Enjoy it while it lasts, but remember to seize control and you end it!!

Seizing control had been my goal, our goal, throughout all our discussions. Each of us wanted to be out from under the yoke of our men and not return to that behavior. Debbie was right, and in this case I had the built-in advantage of a time limit. I had to leave for Mom’s as soon as Grace returned. Staying to see where this might go with Boone wasn’t an option. It just wasn’t safe.

My phone vibrating again brought me back.

LAURIE: Curious minds are waiting?

I sent my one word answer.

ME: Yes

DEBBIE: And?

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