“Hi,” she said as they got out of the car. She was cautious, preparing herself for their questions and their scolding. It was an unwritten law that work wasn’t a valid reason for neglecting your girlfriends.

“So how are you doing?” Bobbi asked. “Been busy?”

“Like always,” Cait said.

“We were wondering—” April began.

She broke off because Rilla came out of Cooper’s trailer. She was wearing a purple dress, one of those that was only a foot wide on the hanger and you had to struggle to pull it up. With it was a huge pink hat and what had to be ten pounds of gold jewelry. It’s a wonder she could lift her arm with that chain bracelet. It could be used to anchor a ship. She flashed in the sunlight as she walked toward the big black Mercedes.

“Hello, girls,” she said in her silky voice. She slipped into the car with the grace of someone trained in etiquette.

Cait rolled her eyes. Now she’d be interrogated about Rilla. But they surprised her.

“She saw that it was just us females here but she still walked like men were watching,” Millie said.

“I think that breaks the girl code,” April said.

Cait spoke up. “She has the right to walk any way she wants. She’s Cooper’s ex-wife.”

“Ex?” Bobbi said. “But she came out of his place.”

Cait shrugged, hoping she appeared to be nonchalant and sophisticated. Let them think that it didn’t matter to her.

“How long?” Millie’s teeth were clamped together.

“Three days,” Cait replied.

For a moment, all four of them were silent as they watched the big black car drive away. “Is that what he wants?” Bobbi asked. “He’s a body-only man? I thought better of him.”

“Me, too,” April said. “I had high hopes for him since he turned Heather down flat. We thought it was because he was, you know, for you.” She looked at Cait.

She shrugged.

“You spent the whole night with him at Kelly’s clinic. We were sure that after that you two were a couple,” April said.

“And what Heather said confirmed it. If he didn’t want her, he must have another girl.”

“Heather...” Cait began, but didn’t finish. She should tell them what Coop said, but she couldn’t make herself do it. Was there any better feeling in the world than having people on your side?

“That ex is quite pretty,” April said.

“So what?” Bobbi snapped. “My face is prettier than hers.”

They nodded in agreement. So what if she had a few extra pounds below her gorgeous face? “I’ve got better legs,” April said.

They turned to Millie. “We know what I have.” She was more than a bit top-heavy.