Page 54 of Where It All Began
Hazel grabbed a handful of pretzels from the bag and tossed them in Elvira’s direction. “Hilarious.”
“Soooo, whatisgoing on with you and Michael?” Phoebe asked, leaning over the foot of countertop on the peninsula. Elvira joined her and stared expectantly.
“Yeah, Haze. What’s going on with you and Fire Chief Hot Pants?”
“For a woman who doesn’t want a relationship, you sure have a lot of interest in others’,” Hazel said, pouring the sauvignon blanc.
“Just because I’m not getting married in this lifetime doesn’t mean I don’t do relationships. I do just fine in that department, thank you very much. Also, A HA! You said ‘relationship’ in relation to Michael.”
Phoebe pointed at Elvira. “I believe the esteemed Ms. Eustace is correct.”
Hazel rolled her blue eyes ceilingward. “Are you sure you weren’t born to some hippies here in town and adopted? I feel like I’m trapped in a room with Nordemann right now.”
“I hate to point it out, but you’re avoiding the question,” Phoebe grinned. “There’s something there, right?”
“Ugh, fine. I may have had the smallest crush on him in high school, but the way he asked me to prom? All big man on campus?” Hazel snorted. “I want a regular guy, not Mr. I’m God’s Gift to Women.”
“He is a flirt,” Elvira agreed.
“But he clearly has a thing for you,” Phoebe argued.
“See? What did I tell you? Nordemann,” Hazel said, slipping her hand in the pretzel bag.
“I’m serious. The man just fell on his ass just because he caught a glimpse of you,” Phoebe reminded her.
“Hmm.”
“Yeah, but how is Hazel supposed to ignore his long history of womanizing?”
Phoebe waved away Elvira’s concern. “Please, long,ancienthistory.”
“He asked you out, didn’t he?” Elvira reminded Phoebe.
“To annoy John. Besides, the first time I saw him look at Hazel at the town meeting, I knew there were sparks aplenty.”
“So, one night of sex turns you into a relationship expert?” Hazel questioned.
“Correction, one night of phenomenally mind-blowing sex. And, Exhibit B,” she waved her hand in front of her face. “I’m not blind. Anyone can see Michael has a very heavy thing for you.”
“Having a thing for and behaving as a partner in a monogamous relationship are two very different things,” Elvira pointed out, holding up her empty glass.
Hazel poured obligingly. “And do I even want to be the thousandth notch in his bed post?” Hazel argued.
“Hazel, if anyone can lay down the law with Cardona, it’s you,” Phoebe predicted.
Hazel poured. “I see what you’re doing. Good cop, bad cop. It doesn’t work on an actual cop.”
Phoebe grinned. “Just giving you some food for thought.”
“You sure you aren’t moving here permanently?” Hazel asked Phoebe. “You’d fit right in with the rest of these gossip mongers and meddlers.”
“Phoebe’s got some family stuff to take care of after this summer,” Elvira announced vaguely.
Phoebe shot her a look.
“Uh-uh.” Hazel shook her finger in Phoebe’s face. “I shared, now you. Or I’ll dig my service weapon out of my purse and interrogate you properly.”
Elvira snickered. “When’s the last time you had to interrogate anyone?”
