Page 68 of Barefoot Dreams
The workout lasts for another fifteen minutes before everyone is sweaty and panting. And I only looked at Griff maybe like two more times.
Okay, fine, that’s a lie. It’s more like five. Ten…oh, whatever. The man wears T-shirts that mold against his sweaty chest like second skin.
“One last thing before you all go on with your beautiful morning. Starting today, we will be hosting blind dates in Loverly Cave because we strongly believe in finding your soulmate. There is a sign-up sheet at LPs bar—head on over and Willa will take your name. Good luck to you all and may the odds be ever in your favor. Damn, I always wanted to say that line.” Jacob hops from one foot to the other like a kid on sugar rush.
“I’m marrying an idiot.” Joy sighs, plucking her mat from the ground.
“How do I know you won’t pair me with Norman?” one of the ladies calls out. “I want one of them Colson boys.”
“Mrs. Zinger, both of the Colson boys are already taken.”
“Well, I don’t want Norman. He’s got one foot in the grave. He can’t satisfy me. Now, those Colson boys, they are fine lads.”
“Mrs. Zinger, I repeat, they are both taken, using their body parts to satisfy their women.”
“I’m not picky, I can make an excellent lover.”
“Oh dear Lord, did she really just say that?” Hope asks.
“Why do you assume you’d be paired up with Norman?” Jacob asks.
“Because I’ve been married to that old hag for the past forty years.”
“You still are,” Norman crocks out.
“Okayyyy,” Joy draws out as all hell breaks loose around the square. “This has been enlightening as always, now I’m heading over to work. See you all later.” And with that she sashays away. Joy and Jacob recently took over the family practice in town.
Ignoring what sounds like every single resident over the age of sixty now shouting at Jacob and demanding to not be paired with someone they’ve been married to before, I say, “Well, I needto head over to my coffee shop as well.” I have extra staff helping out on the days I’m at the workout, but I’m still anxious anytime I’m away from it for too long.
We all say our goodbyes to one another and I’m halfway across the square when a hot pink ball is rushing toward me. “Julie!” The pink ball turns into Fanny, her white, short, curly hair bobbing up and down with each step. “Sheesh, I barely caught you.”
“What’s going on, Fanny?” I ask, and she holds up a finger while trying to catch her breath.
“Damn Jenny and her cookies, I knew that last one was too much last night.”
“Are you sure it was the cookies and not the cocktails Willa so helpfully provided for you guys?” I arch an eyebrow in amusement while Fanny narrows her eyes at me.
“What do you know about our super-secret meeting?”
I roll my eyes. Last night Dad called me in distress when Mom didn’t come home from her “tea” with the girls. The phone call came at two-forty-three a.m. I was still on the line with him, pulling on my leggings, to go see what was happening when their front door was opened with a bang loud enough I heard it.
“Only that my mom came home sometime around three a.m. singing “Listen To Your Heart”and collapsing in the living room. On the floor. Where she’d decided she was going to die last night.”
“Pff, newbie,” Fanny scoffs. “It’s all right, we’ll train Lily better for the next time.”
“Next time?” I start asking and then think better of it. “Nope, you know what, I don’t want to know. So, what can I do for you?” Where Love Hive is involved the less you know the better.
“Show up at seven p.m. tonight at LPs.”
“Huh? Why? What’s happening at LPs tonight?”
“Your blind date is happening.”
“My what date?” I blink. “I thought Jacob just announced the sign-ups.”
Fanny waves me off. “Didn’t your mom tell you? Jenny recently discovered she’s got a clairvoyant bone. She saw the future where you were signing up.”
“You don’t say…” I trail off, slowly, my suspicious hackles up and ready.
