OCTOBER

Vicki is my friend, good

Oct 14, 2016 Part 4

Weight: 118

Ate: nothing

Drank: about to order

Sex: I should probably be ready

Today was good. In the car ride over to Miracle Mile, I sang along with my high school friend to the radio.

It was like we were never separated. She sang slightly off pitch, always, but that was because she went low when I went high, and then we giggled.

As we parked the car, Vicki asked me as I turned off the engine to my Tesla, “So what kind of movie are you looking to do?”

Good. Career. No more talk about her brother and how he clearly had some fling with a mystery woman. I pursed my lips and imagined for one minute what I’d do as I said, “I’m hoping for a murder mystery.”

Her eyes widened as I clicked the door locked and we headed onto the main street walking. Vicki then asked, “Not a romance?”

I winked at her as my stomach growled for that coffee I used to always get here. “On my shows I always play a bit of a diva.”

“You?” Vicki asked in a mock.

I laughed but then I saw someone took out their camera and snap my picture.

With Victoria. I batted my eyes in the direction of the fan but then across the street I noticed the Italian from the wake.

What was he doing here? I shook my head and opened the door to the bookstore for my friend as I said, “Stop. I’m not that bad.”

“If you say so.” Vicki said and giggled.

Fair enough. As the door closed, I took one more look. The sexy dark haired Italian held up his coffee toward me like he saluted.

I stepped back and into the shadows of the store. Alice wasn’t here yet but Vicki motioned for me to join her in the coffee line. My lips smacked together as I already imagined the liquid as I shook off seeing whoever he was again.

Seriously. I wasn’t looking for hot, but that man was sinful. As I made it to Vicki in line, I winked and joked, “If I’m such a diva, how were you friends with me then?”

Vicki’s blue eyes were serious as she stared back at me and she didn’t blink at all. “Because you care about your friends.”

Heat rose to my cheeks. I hadn’t wanted friends in a long time. Caro and Rafe were the closest I had to friends that were like family to me, but even then it was better to keep them all at arms length. I shook my head and kept it down as I said, “I wasn’t nice to Alice at the funeral.”

“Why?” Vicki asked.

Fair. We stepped forward and ordered our coffees. Vicki got a latte that sounded heavenly with peppermint. However lattes were fattening. I glanced at the milk and decided this one time I could. So I ordered a triple nonfat cappuccino. I’ll hit the gym later, but as we waited for our orders I finally had my answer about Alice. “I thought if she just left, she’d be safer from whatever plan your brother has with her business. You know, out of sight, out of mind.”

Our drinks were up fast. I reached for my cup as Vicki said, “I doubt that would work with Peter.”

This time it was my turn to ask as I glanced at her and asked, “Why?”

Vicki shrugged and said, “He’s my father’s son. It wouldn’t work for me.”

It was better to get my life off the topic of discussion. So I sipped my coffee and stared at Vicki. She’d let us all think she was dead and I hadn’t asked nearly enough. I stared down my cup to not alarm her but I asked, “So have you seen Colt since you came back?”

Vicki coughed while drinking her latte. Once she was calm, she asked, “No, why would I?”

Right. I hit a button. Clearly. But if I married Peter then I needed to keep my friends. I batted my eyes and laughed as I said, “Because you were into Alice’s brother all our lives.”

Vicki was bright red and she shook her head. “Never tell her that. And besides I think he’s still out of town.”

Right. If Vicki wanted the farmer’s son and Marine, she could have him. I was her friend. I’d help. And I liked having projects that didn’t include my love life or how I was going to find Ms. Bad Underwear. I sipped my coffee and then said as I finished, “You can ask her to put in a good word for you.”

Vicki shook her head but I knew she was thinking about it. I could tell. And this was good. I needed friends again.

The House of Morgan