Chapter 7 #2
“How was graduation?” Ashlyn asked, clearly ready for a subject change.
“It was good,” Sage said with a smile. “Good speeches. It was a great group of students. Tons of scholarship money.”
“That’s awesome. Josh’s daughter graduated,” Ashlyn said, pointing next door.
“That’s right. I didn’t see him, but I’m sure he was there. The crowd was standing room only.” Sage settled her wide hips onto a stool and pushed one over for me to sit next to her.
“I thought you didn’t have kids?” I asked her.
Sage shook her head. “I don’t, but the station always has cameras at big events like that. We’re a small station, so we make sure we highlight all town functions. I covered the graduation.”
“Even though you’re an anchor?”
“Yeah. It’s not like a bigger station where there are multiple people who do the same job.
I mean, you can look at me and see I’m not the typical woman you’d see on the news.
I have been turned down for more jobs than I can count because of my weight, but Amethyst Bay is different.
For one thing, they can’t be as picky, but they’re also not as discriminatory because everyone knows everyone.
” Sage shrugged, but I could see the strain around her eyes.
“I’ll never know what it’s like to be you, but I have to say I’m a huge fan of yours. That sounds weird, but I mean it. You make me feel comfortable here because I’m not out of place.”
“Thank you. That’s another reason I do personal interest stories and features.
I want to make sure I’m out there in front of all the other girls who look like me, who never saw someone they shared any resemblance to showing them what’s possible.
I always wanted to be on TV, but I never thought it was an option for me.
I studied broadcast journalism in school, and I fell in love with being on camera. ”
“You are made for it. You bring a sincerity to it that I really like,” I told her.
“Thanks.”
We fell into a new topic over and over again, talking and laughing as if we’d all known each other forever. As the night wore on, the bottles of wine emptied and our enjoyment of each other climbed.
“I’m surprised you’re still awake,” Ashlyn said at one point.
The sun had long since set. The fire was smoldering in the fire pit. We were all happily tipsy with full bellies and light hearts. “I am having too much fun to think about being tired.”
“I agree. But I know I’m going to crash at some point,” Sage said.
“Why don’t we go inside and curl up on the couch and watch a movie?” Ashlyn suggested.
The three of us made sure the fire was out, then folded our blankets and headed inside. We took turns using the bathroom and changing into pajamas, then curled up on the couch.
I woke up to a darkened room and a blanket on top of me.
I sat up and looked around, spotting the air mattress on the floor with Sage sleeping peacefully on it.
I felt guilty that she took the air mattress while I had an empty bed and hogged the couch.
I hurried to the bathroom, then went to my room and was back asleep again before I could do anything about Sage on the air mattress.
Sounds of movement in the kitchen woke me up. I stretched and grinned, thinking about Ashlyn and Sage and finding I was happier there than I’d been in MacKellar Cove in years.
Maybe moving was the right option.
I stopped at the bathroom, then went out to the kitchen, finding Sage rummaging around for breakfast. “Morning.”
“Hey. Did I wake you? How did you sleep?”
I shook my head. “I’m an early riser. And I slept better than you. You should have taken the bed.”
Sage waved her hand. “I was totally fine on the air mattress. I didn’t want to risk you waking up in the middle of the night and scaring you if I was in your bed. Since you ended up there, it’s a good thing.” She grinned at me.
“I feel bad, though.”
“Oh, please. No need to feel bad. I was so tired, I could have slept on those chairs outside.”
I chuckled with her. “Obviously, I was the same.”
“Part of the job, right?”
“Yeah. I’ve always liked mornings. But you’re up even earlier than me. You already made coffee?”
“And drank a cup. I was going to make something for breakfast. Any suggestions?”
Sage and I worked side-by-side to cook buttermilk pancakes. I found some frozen sausages and heated them up in the microwave. We were laughing and not being very quiet, and when Ashlyn dragged herself to the kitchen, she told us as much.
“I should have known better than to put two early birds in my house at the same time,” Ashlyn said, dropping her head to rest on her folded arms on the island.
Sage and I laughed. I poured a cup of coffee for Ashlyn, then presented her with a plate of breakfast. “At least we cooked for you.”
“And made coffee,” Sage added.
Ashlyn grunted, but she accepted her breakfast and slowly became more herself. “When do you work this week?” she asked Sage when she was sitting upright and looked more awake.
“Every morning.”
“Are you off for the holiday weekend?”
“I am,” Sage said, smiling brightly.
“Nice. We should do something. Are you coming to Evie’s graduation party the following weekend?”
“Yeah, I’ll be here.”
“Good. You can park here.” She looked at me. “Did I tell you someone is going to be here a week from Thursday to set up a tent for Josh’s daughter’s graduation party?”
I shrugged and shook my head. “Why does that matter?”
“They’re setting it up in my yard,” Ashlyn said.
“Really? Why?” Sage asked.
“Because Hannah happened,” Ashlyn said, as if that explained everything.
Sage rolled her eyes.
Ashlyn focused on me. “Hannah is Josh’s ex-wife. She married this rich guy and has a big house and was supposed to host the graduation party for Evie, but told Josh last week she couldn’t and he has to. She had all this stuff already set up, and is forcing it all on him.”
“Sounds like Hannah,” Sage said.
“She’s a real piece of work,” Ashlyn said.
I listened, digesting all the information they shared. I hadn’t told Ashlyn about my mornings with Josh so she didn’t know I knew some of what she was saying, but I didn’t want her to stop.
“I don’t know why he puts up with so much from her,” Ashlyn finally said.
“Probably for Evie. He adores that kid. He’d do anything for her. Including let Hannah walk all over him.” Sage sighed.
“I can’t blame him for that,” Ashlyn said. “He’s a great dad.”
“Yes, he is. And not too bad to look at,” Sage said with a wink.
Ashlyn nodded. “Very true.”
My gut churned at their tones. “Have either of you ever dated him?”
Ashlyn snorted, and Sage laughed outright.
“Josh doesn’t really date,” Ashlyn said. “I mean, I’d guess he does some, but not much. Plus, dating my next door neighbor could get awkward in a hurry.”
“He keeps to himself. He spends time with Evie, with his close friends, and at work. Maybe with Evie graduating, he’ll date more, but he’s not my type,” Sage said.
“Why not?” I asked before I could stop myself.
Sage shrugged. “He’s attractive, but he doesn’t do anything for me. No tingles, no stirring in my panties. Just nice to look at.”
I choked on a laugh at her description, thinking I was the exact opposite.
“What she said,” Ashlyn agreed. “He’s nice to look at, but that’s about it. Although his protective instincts are kind of hot.”
“Protective instincts?” Sage asked.
Ashlyn nodded to me. “The first day Reegan was here, he yelled at her because she was on the dock. He thought she was a random person, and Evie was home.”
“So you understand. He’s nice to look at, but…” Sage trailed off and shrugged.
I didn’t contradict her even though just the thought of Josh had me tingling and stirring in my panties. But I didn’t intend to tell either of them about that.
Thankfully, they changed the subject and talked about other graduation parties they were invited to. It sounded as if everyone in town was invited to all the parties.
Like a community. Like a family. Like what I’d been missing.