Page 70 of What's in a Kiss?

“I like dogs.”

Aurora seems suspicious.

“And because,” I say, “we’re friends. And I know you have so much on your plate with, uh—”

“My birthday plans?” she whispers, touching fingers to her chest.

“Such a big event,” I say.

“Thank you for seeing me.” Aurora’s now blinking back tears herself.

“I do,” I say. “And you’re enough.”

Gram Parson’s goes belly up in my arms.

“Should we get wasted tonight at Soho House?” Aurora sniffles. “Or you know what—I just joined the Mulholland Tennis Club. We could wear tiny skirts and sneak margaritas on the court.”

“Let me check my calendar,” I say, pulling out my phone until I can make something up. Then I see I really do have plans.

Baseball Playoffs vs. Cardinals. North Weddington Park. 6:00 p.m.

Jake and I play in a baseball league? Of course we’re in the playoffs. I picture Jake in tight polyester pants and—

“Olivia?” Aurora snaps her fingers in my face.

“I can’t tonight. I’ve got a baseball game with Jake.”

She gags. “When are you going to divorce that loser?”

I stare at her. “What did you just say?”

“Oh honey, I’m kidding!” she coos. “I mean, I’m kidding if you want me to be.” Aurora looks me up and down. “Because you know there are other teams that would love to have you ride their bench.”

“You can stop talking now.”

She waves me off. “You always get like this when I rag on Jake. I simply want the best for you. For you to knowreal life. Imagine combining your income with another big earner’s wad—”

“Please leave,” I say and open the trailer door. “Now.”

“I appreciate your feeling safe enough with me to express your marital frustrations—”

“I’m happy,” I say with savage intensity. I’d only meant to shut her up, but the words feel true. I’m happy in my marriage to Jake Glasswell. Not the real me, of course, but the me who ended up married to him. She likes it. She has fun and feels safe. She sleeps well and eats well and laughs a lot and sends flirty texts for no reason and looks forward to what otherwise would be considered extremely tedious household maintenance.

She’s in love. And she is stronger for that love.

“Okay, I’m out,” Aurora says. “My sensual masseuse is waiting in my trailer.”

I slam the door behind her, fall onto my papasan, and cuddle with Gram Parsons.

“Wag your tail twice if you know me from another life,” I whisper in his soft, gray ear.

Lo and behold, he does.

••••••

Driving to NorthWeddington Park that evening, I’m feeling good. Gram Parsons is riding shotgun, and I’m about to play my favorite sport on the same field where I used to play as a kid.

I’ve left a message with Amy Reisenbach’s assistant about setting up a lunch to broach the topic of Jake’s career. I asked Ivy to call Masha’s mother to get Yogi Rabbi Dan’s contact info. Plans are falling into place. But as I head north onLankershim, my eyes fall on a billboard that almost makes me flip my car.