Page 4 of Almost Always

“Had a meeting and got distracted,” Daisy said with a sheepish smile. “But I’m notthatlate.”

“If you responded to my texts, you’d know that’s not true.”

Chuckling, she thanked the bartender and took a big sip of her beer. Setting the bottle down, she nudged her friend. “Was the trip everything you hoped it would be?”

“Better. We didn’t leave the room for three days.” Roe—only Monroe to strangers—smirked, taking another sip of her drink. “I thought I was bendy, but that man can do things with his body that I don’t think is possible.”

“Usually, I’d be eager for more information, but I cannot hear this and look Wyatt in the eyes later.”

Roe laughed. “All you need to know is my husband planned the best trip, gave the best dick and still thinks the sun shines out of my ass. Which, by the way, he put out a few times.”

“Oh mygod.” She snorted. “If you could leave out all your sexcapades, I’d appreciate a debrief of your trip.”

“Well, you’re no fun.”

“When I’m getting dicked down again, I’ll happily listen to your adventures.”

“That bad, huh?” Roe asked with a pout.

“I think I’ve met all the single people here and I don’t know if I want to travel elsewhere for sex.”

“Your Wyatt is around the corner,” Roe said, giving her shoulder a squeeze.

A few months after her divorce was finalized, she signed up for a singles mixer. Lonely, bored and feeling sorry for herself, Daisy thought she deserved a distraction. The first person she met that evening was Monroe. As two of the only queer women at the mixer, they got talking over drinks. It became clear pretty quickly that while they thought the other was attractive and interesting, they weren’t the right match romantically. Instead, an incredible friendship was born.

Roe met Wyatt soon after and announced that she was going to marry the man. At the first meeting, Daisy could see why Wyatt was a winner—he worshiped the ground Monroe walked on, looked at her like nobody else was in the room and treated her with so much respect. A year into dating, they eloped. Ten years in, they were still one of her favorite couples.

“I’m glad you two were able to get away for a bit. But I’mreallyglad you’re back, because I missed you.”

“Aw, boo. I missed you too. What kind of shenanigans did you get into while I was gone?”

Daisy arched an eyebrow. “In all the years you’ve known me, have I ever indulged inshenanigans?”

“You’re so boring without me.”

“I like my simple little life.”

“You spent the whole time in your greenhouse, didn’t you?”

Shrugging, she finished her beer and called for another. “I had to make sure everything was doing okay after winter.”

“I think I know what the problem is,” Roe said very seriously.

“What problem?”

“We need to find you someone who gives a shit about plants!”

She laughed loudly and patted her friend’s arm. “When you find them, I’ll let you set me up on a blind date.”

“For real? I’ll enlist Wyatt, he knows people.”

“One day we can double date.”

Roe narrowed her eyes. “Now you’re fucking with me.”

Daisy smiled. “I’m grateful for you, Bower.”

“Right back atcha, Heroux.”

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