Page 136

Barb blinked.

"It's on the invoice," Parker reminded Barb.

"Of course it is."

"So, five for four. It's a date."

"It's a date."

Riley let the front door close behind her and set her bag down gently.

Fallon was already halfway across the room.

“Are you okay? Do you want water? Tea? Ginger ale?”

Riley raised an amused eyebrow. “I just had a nurse insert a catheter and a vial of hope. I’m not dying, babe."

Fallon didn’t laugh. She hovered.

Riley walked to the couch and sat with a sigh. “Okay. I’m officially sitting. Breathe.”

Fallon sat beside her. "The doctor said you should stay hydrated."

"Fallon, relax. It went fine. Quick, clinical, and weirdly anticlimactic.”

“I can do climactic,” Fallon offered.

Riley laughed.

They sat in silence for a few seconds, apart from the nervous drumming of Fallon's fingers on the arm of the couch.

“What if it didn’t work?” Fallon asked.

Riley reached over and stilled Fallon's hand. “Then we try again. And again. If we need to.”

Riley decided to change the subject. "Beth said Barb stopped by Pete’s to pick up her car.”

“That's good."

“And Parker was there.”

Fallon’s eyes narrowed. “Go on.”

“They’re going for pizza tomorrow with the girls.”

"Like on a date?"

"I don't know if it's a date. It's pizza. With the girls.”

"Do you think Barb is interested in Parker?" Fallon asked.

"I think Barb finds her interesting."

"What's the difference?"

"I think Barb is intrigued. That's a good thing."

"Hm."