Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 96850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Leave it to Veda to skip over the practicalities, like sleep and time management.
“Put me on speakerphone,” Elton demanded. Eve did as he asked, only wishing she had a tub of popcorn for the show. “What do you mean, ‘me?’?” he asked Veda, sounding extragrouchy. “You’ve never been to a baseball game before?”
“And that surprises you? What would I even wear?”
“I’ll bring you something.”
“Something of yours?”
“Yeah.”
“Fine.” What an interesting shade of pink Veda’s face had turned. “I-I mean, if Eve is going and everything. I guess I’ll go too.”
Part of Eve saw this impromptu trip for the bad idea it was. Going to his game to surprise Madden was a total wife thing, wasn’t it? She should stay in Cumberland, distract herself with the last-minute fundraiser and Jam Jar expansion, take care of the kids and wait for their six-month verbal contract to end—whether Madden wanted it to or not.
On the other hand, she’d be there with friends. Childhood friends.
Skylar.
Oh lord, if she saw her best friend, she’d have no choice but to finally come clean about being married to Madden. Yes, Skylar had a new, serious boyfriend, but after protecting Skylar’s feelings for so long, Eve couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit like a traitor.
But damn, she really wanted to watch Madden play. To celebrate him at the pinnacle of his career. Even at the price of a difficult conversation.
“Eve,” Elton said.
“What?”
“You’re coming. We’ll meet you at the entrance to the VIP suites.”
“Oh. VIP?” Eve reared back a little, exchanging a wide-eyed glance with Veda. “Fancy.”
Elton chuckled. “You’re married to a Yankee. Start acting like it.”
Eve hung up, shooting Veda a wince. “Is it irresponsible to go live it up in a VIP suite when I’m barely covering the club’s expenses this month?”
“Pshh.” Veda waved off her concern. “We’ve got one fundraiser kicking ass and a second one planned for Sunday. Plus, Full Bush Rhonda is performing tonight. Those bills are as good as paid.”
“Right . . .” Eve’s phone rang again. Seeing it was Rhonda calling, she tapped the option for speakerphone. “Hey, Rhonda. What’s up?”
“Eve,” said Rhonda, her tone the verbal equivalent of wringing her hands, “I don’t think I’ll make it in tonight. We can’t find my new puppy. We’re looking everywhere.”
Eve and Veda exchanged a doomsday look, Veda whipping out her phone to check the time. She’s onstage in five hours, she mouthed to Eve. “Oh no. Um . . .” Eve could bring in one of the new hires, but they all lived a good distance away and many of them had second and even third jobs. It would be a long shot and they wouldn’t bring in the same crowd. There was only one option—find the dog. “Rhonda, how about Veda and I grab the kids from school and come help you look?”
“Oh! That would be amazing.”
“Send me your address.”
* * *
Rhonda “Full Bush” Nieves was, apparently, loaded.
From the sidewalk, Eve and Veda stared up the grand, sloping lawn currently being showered by the sprinkler system, toward the affluent colonial lit from within. The setting sun cast a golden glow on the lush surrounding gardens, making the home resemble a New England postcard.
“My car is going to get towed in this neighborhood,” Eve said with a sigh.
“Do you think she’ll adopt me?” Veda let out a low whistle. “Imagine the basement. A musician’s dream, for sure.”
Their jaws unhinged when Rhonda opened the front door in a cashmere leisure set and waved, signaling she’d join them in a moment. As they watched, a man who resembled a young Antonio Banderas came up behind Rhonda and wrapped her in a bear hug from behind, saying something into her neck that made her giggle.
“Maybe this is my sign to stop waxing,” Veda remarked, sounding pensive.
Eve bit back a snort.
Rhonda and the man who appeared to be her significant other joined them on the sidewalk, Rhonda kissing Veda’s and Eve’s cheeks, sending a pinkie wave to the twins. Her canoodling partner gave the group a slow, debonair wink as he passed, sauntering a few yards away to light up a thin cigar.
“Thank you so much for coming to help us, ladies,” Rhonda said. “This is my boyfriend, Sebastian.”
Sebastian winked at them a second time but said nothing, continuing his slow saunter down the sidewalk, wreathed in pungent smoke.
“He doesn’t talk much,” Rhonda said, smiling. “I find silence an admirable quality in a man. Tell me I’m pretty or shut up.”
“What is your life?” Veda demanded to know, stomping a foot.
“No, really,” Eve jumped in. “Satisfy our curiosity. You obviously don’t need a side hustle, Rhonda. What are you doing working for me?”
“Staying young.” She shrugged a sensual shoulder. “Keeping everyone guessing. Reminding myself to love this body, even as it ages. And at the end of the day, I just like people cheering for me. Is that a crime?” Rhonda squinted up at her lavish house. “The last time I danced, I was a single mother putting myself through night school. Landed a job with a tech company after I graduated. That job was boring as hell, but it put my kids through college. Now I get to stay home and play dress-up with my dogs. And Sebastian.”