Page 56 of Wild Abandon

Scarlet looks at me and then turns back to Nate. “And how old are you?”

“Thirty-two?” Again, he’s answering as if it’s a question.

I think Scarlet is making him nervous.

“Why are you still single?” she probes.

Even though I should be scolding her for bothering Nate, I honestly want the answer.

“I’m not,” he answers.

My head jolts up in surprise.

“What are you doing, leading my friend Crystal on, if you’re not single?” Scarlet demands.

I really want to know the answer to this question, too.

Nate leans forward and tilts his head at Scarlet. “We’re just friends. Don’t you have boys who are just friends?”

“No. I don’t like boys. They’re immature and annoying.”

“I’m sure your parents will appreciate that.” Nate laughs and then gets down on his knee. “You might not believe this, but someday, the boys who you don’t want to play with will grow up, and they won’t be as annoying to you as they are now. Grown men and women can be friends with each other. We can hang out and share a meal and talk to each other.”

Scarlet twists her lips, taking in what Nate has said. “Okay, I understand. But no sleepovers. We’re trying to find Crystal a husband, and she has a reputation to uphold.”

I open my mouth to yell at Scarlet, but Nate holds his hand in the air to her and says, “Scout’s honor.”

Scarlet takes Nate’s elbow and starts to usher him inside. “You want to see my tepee in the backyard?”

Nate pulls back. “I do, but I brought a friend with me. I just took him to his groomer here in town, so he’s nice and clean. Can he come inside, too?”

He walks to his car and opens the back door. Willie Mays comes barreling out. He walks over to Naomi’s plants and takes the longest pee I have ever seen in my life.

Scarlet has a look of disgust on her face. “Sure. But, if he poops, you’re cleaning it. Yuck!”

I have to give Jeremy credit. For finding out he’s hosting a get-together moments before it begins, the man has an incredible spread prepared. Naomi went to the kitchen to whip together a corn salad, but Jeremy has hamburgers, ribs, potatoes, and asparagus all cooking on the grill. It’s like he had a Barbeque for Dummies kit in the fridge, waiting for an impromptu party.

I’m staring out the window, watching Nate and Jeremy chat at the grill. I can’t believe he’s here.

“He’s nice,” Naomi says.

I turn around and glare at her. “Promise me you won’t play matchmaker.”

“What on earth would I do that for?” She tosses the salad and smiles.

I am still trying to figure out how an emotionally unavailable man who hates love has a girlfriend. I can’t deny that it totally deflated my elation that he’s here.

“He’s already in a relationship.” I hope I sound nonchalant about it.

Naomi’s mouth drops in disappointment. “That’s a shame…for the other girl. Because he really likes you.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Woman’s intuition.” She picks up the bowl and walks it outside.

I follow.

When the table is set and the food is prepared, the five of us take our seats and eat. Nate asks us how we know each other.