Chapter 5
5
Michelle grabbed her bag as she walked toward the back door. Jackie knocked on time as usual, and Michelle flung open the door to see her smiling from ear to ear.
“Somebody looks too happy for ten in the morning.”
Jackie canted her head. “Guess who I chatted with last night.”
Michelle’s eyes bounced back and forth in question. “Who?”
“Oscar!”
“Really? That’s wonderful.”
“He’s new on the app. He saw your picture before he saw mine.” She shrugged. “I know we were supposed to walk the lake today, but maybe we can do a cardio class at the gym instead... and use a few machines afterward.”
“Why?”
“Oscar goes to lunch at noon and squeezes in a workout. We can stay for an extra half hour, right?” A hopeful grin spread across Jackie’s face.
“If you’re there flirting with him, he won’t get his workout in.”
Jackie gave her a silly, flirty look. “I’m working on helping him with his cardio.” She elbowed Michelle, and they laughed.
“You’re incorrigible.”
“I know.” Jackie opened her car door as Michelle slid into the passenger side. “What did you do after we talked last night?”
Michelle grinned. “I chatted too.” She didn’t bother telling her the conversation happened before they spoke.
“With whom?”
“Ronnie.”
“The young guy?”
“Yep.” Michelle glanced out the passenger window and then looked at her. “I’m going to his game Saturday morning.”
“Shut up! You are not!”
“I am.” Michelle flashed a toothy grin portraying more confidence than she felt. “And he said he wants everyone to know I’m there to see him.”
“You’ll have fun. I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
Michelle’s stomach rolled, and she looked at her watch. “This time tomorrow, it’ll all be over. I’ll either like him or come home and puke.”
“Nice visual there, my friend. It won’t be that bad.”
“It’s only an hour, right? And he’ll be playing softball, so I really won’t be with him that much.” Michelle gave Jackie a determined nod. “Yeah, I can do this.”
Michelle didn’t remember half of the class from thinking about her upcoming date. When they walked out of the room, Jackie’s face lit up. She walked toward the man of the hour and looped her arm around his. “Oscar, I’d like to introduce you to my friend, Michelle. Michelle, Oscar.”
Michelle reached out her hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
“Likewise,” he said. “I saw you on the Couples dating app. I knew I’d seen you before but wasn’t sure where. Now I remember seeing you here with Jackie.”
A polite smile formed on Michelle’s face. “Yeah, I saw you too, but when I went back to the app, you were gone. I’m new on there and not really sure how all that works. Jackie wasn’t with me to ask, so I’m sorry if I did something to lose the connection.”
Jackie narrowed her eyes. She knew Michelle was lying. “Michelle’s husband died a couple of years ago. She thinks she wants to try dating. In fact, she’s going on her first date tomorrow. Ain’t that right?”
If looks could kill, they would be going to Jackie’s funeral in a few days. Michelle didn’t want her to tell people that she was dating. Obviously, she was since she was on that site. Most of all, Michelle would rather people ask her about being a widow than Jackie telling everyone about Bill. “That’s right,” she said as she looked at the floor. “Look, I’m going to hit the rowing machine for a bit. That is if we’re still staying.”
“Yeah, I want to use the leg press.” Jackie rubbed her legs. “I don’t feel like I got enough of a workout in class today.”
“Sure. I’ll see you at the front desk in thirty minutes.”
Jackie wiggled her fingers in a wave as she walked off with Oscar, and Michelle went to the rowing machines. It was a good exercise to let her mind wander while she rowed.
Thirty minutes later, Michelle stood in the foyer at the check-in desk, waiting for Jackie. She pulled out her phone, ready to text Jackie, when she gingerly walked down the stairs, wincing with every step. Michelle rolled her lips inward, trying not to laugh. “Serves her right,” she thought. For thirty minutes, Michelle had given Jackie a piece of her mind for that stunt with Oscar. She knew Jackie was marking her territory, but Michelle didn’t want Jackie’s territory. Since they lived in such a small town, they needed ground rules before their friendship suffered.
When Jackie stepped into the open foyer at the desk, she smiled and walked normally, or as close to normal as she could. The women behind the desk yelled, “Bye, ladies. Have a good afternoon.”
They smiled and waved back. “You too,” Michelle said.
As soon as they got out the door, Jackie whined. “What was I thinking? I’m not going to be able to walk tomorrow.”
“What happened?”
“What happened is that I did have a good leg workout today, then I did three more sets on the leg press... twenty pounds heavier than normal.”
“Oh, Jackie, that’s stupid.”
She pulled out her key fob. “Here, you’re driving.”
Michelle held out her hand. “Why is he so important?”
“He’s the first guy from around here that I’ve met online in a while. I’d like to see where it goes.”
“Well, if you can’t walk, it’s not going anywhere.” Michelle put the car in gear and glanced at Jackie. “You’re an idiot. Be yourself. Either he’ll like you or he won’t, but at least you won’t be in pain.”
“Easy for you to say. I don’t have your blond hair and blue eyes.”
“You don’t need them. That red hair of yours is all the sassy you need. Did you ever think the guys around here aren’t man enough to handle you?” Michelle laughed, even though she truly felt that way in her heart. Jackie was just extra—a heart as big as Texas, a bubbly personality to match, a lawyer with the brains to argue anyone under the table, and a rockin’ body that most men wouldn’t know what to do with. She was the complete package.
The drive home was quiet except for Jackie’s groans. Michelle bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing more. Jackie finally asked, “What are you going to wear tomorrow?”
“Jeans and a T-shirt, I think. Nothing fancy. It is a softball game, not a five-star restaurant.”
“And your brown cowboy boots?”
“Of course.” When they pulled into Michelle’s driveway, she glanced at Jackie. “Are you going to be able to drive home?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Jackie opened her door and held onto the hood of her car as she walked around to the driver’s side. She met Michelle at the door and gave her a hug. “I’ll talk with you tomorrow.”
Michelle waved as she walked inside.