Page 14 of Sipping Seduction
“Frannie?” Charice came closer. “You okay?”
I stared up at her while my landlord continued to jabber. Something about galvanized pipes and corrosion. “I’ll know more in a day or two, but I think you ought to start looking for somewhere else to stay,” he said.
“For a month.” I dug my nails into my palm. “Well, thanks for the update.”
He apologized again before I disconnected. I stood there, surrounded by the chorus of yips, yaps, and barks, wondering where in the world I was going to go for a solid month.
“Why do you look like someone just died?” Charice asked.
We left the dog park, being careful not to let any of the pups through the double set of gates. “I have to move out for a month so they can do a total replumb on my house.”
“A total replumb… like replace all the pipes?” She got to the car first and opened the door for Pete the Dog to hop in. His feet were covered in mud thanks to him spilling the bowl of water I’d filled for him. “Oh no. I didn’t notice his muddy feet. I’ll wipe out your car when we get back to your place.”
My place… the place I’d be leaving soon with nowhere else to go. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll deal with it later.”
“Where are you going to go for a month?” Charice asked.
I shook my head. “I don’t know yet.”
Staying with my dad wasn’t an option. He had a one-bedroom apartment at a senior living center. As close as we were and as much as I loved spending time with him, sharing a bathroom and camping out in his recliner would be too close for comfort. Plus, I had Pete the Dog to consider.
“What about your place?” I turned toward my friend. She had a two-bedroom apartment in a historic building right in downtown Beaver Bluff.
“They don’t allow pets.” She frowned just as Pete the Dog set a muddy paw on her shoulder.
“Stay back,” I warned him.
He tilted his head, then turned around in a circle and lay down on the back seat.
“There’s got to be somewhere you can go. What about that long-term motel on the way to Bordent? You could probably get a decent rate there. Isn’t your landlord going to pitch in to get you resettled? It’s not your fault the house needs new plumbing.” Charice tried to brush the mud off her shoulder but just ended up spreading it around.
“I’ll figure something out.” I pulled out of the parking lot, my mind already churning, trying to come up with a solution that wouldn’t leave me homeless for the next thirty days.
CHAPTER7
Evan
I wasn’tsure what to expect when I slid into the booth Frannie and I always shared at Pappy’s Last Call. There were several other places in town where we could have met up for Friday night dinners, but meeting at Pappy’s had become a tradition. I was a few minutes early for a change. Usually, she got there first and had already put in our regular order by the time I arrived.
Tonight, I wanted to be the first one here. I felt like I needed to get settled before seeing her. Maybe I just needed a few sips of beer to work up the courage to confront her about the rumors I’d been hearing. Miller wasn’t the only one who mentioned seeing Frannie with some guy. I overheard Silas Stewart of all people talking about his cousin’s kid getting in trouble at school, and then he made a crack about the principal being distracted by her new boyfriend.
There were two major concerns I wanted to address. Number one, identify the mystery man my best friend had been seeing so I could get a read on my competition. Number two, ask her why she didn’t feel like she could tell me she’d been dating someone in the first place. Frannie and I had been best friends since grade school, and I’d made sure to keep the growing feelings I had for her to myself. If she’d been seeing someone and didn’t want to tell me about it, there had to be a reason.
Pappy had seen me come in and brought over a pint of the local pale ale. “Evening, Evan. Is Frannie comin’ in tonight?”
“She should be here any minute. You might as well go ahead and put our order in.”
He chuckled. “The usual?”
I nodded. “Why mess with perfection?”
“I’ll get that started right away.” He turned to walk away just as Frannie came through the door.
My nerves settled at the sight of her. She had on a gray Tennessee Vols sweatshirt and a pair of jeans that molded to her curves. Her eyes lit up when she spotted me in our regular corner booth, and she headed my way.
I got up to pull her into a hug when she got to the table. “Hey, it’s good to see you.”
She hugged back, and I lingered a few seconds longer than necessary. “It’s good to be seen. I’ve had a week from hell.”
