“What are you doing tonight?” He filled a coffee mug with water from the cooler.

Missing you. Soothing my aching heart. Hating Rory for inviting you.

“I’m not sure yet. I’m sure I’ll find something age appropriate to do.”

Fisher finished gulping the water and set the mug on his desk. “I remember being your age and feeling like I wasn’t old enough to do anything fun.”

“I have plenty of fun things to do.” I walked to the door.

“I’m going for Rory. It would seem very odd to her if I didn’t go. Before you moved here, I went out to clubs with them a lot.”

“Well, you’re going. I don’t need to hear your reasoning.” I sulked to his truck and climbed into the passenger’s seat.

On the way home, I didn’t say anything. What could I say? Fisher didn’t speak either, but he took every chance to give me a quick glance like I was going to give away something in my demeanor or meet his gaze and talk. I had nothing to say about his big date night.

“Whose car is that?” I asked when we pulled into the driveway. But I quickly figured it out.

“Rose’s,” Fisher said.

On his porch, sat three women. Rory and who I assumed was Rose and Fisher’s date. They were all in dresses. All laughing. And all sipping wine like non-teenaged adults.

“Well, I hope there’s a DD tonight.” I pulled hard on the door handle and hopped out of the truck before he put it in Park, slamming it shut with a little extra attitude.

“Sweetie, come meet my friends,” Rory called.

I didn’t want to meet her friends. Well, I didn’t mind meeting Rose, but the interior designer could have sucked my proverbial cock. As soon as those words floated through my mind, I made the decision that I would spend the night in prayer and scripture because I didn’t want to be the person thinking someone could suck my proverbial cock. Yet … that was my situation, and I hated it.

“Hi.” I plastered on a fake smile.

“Reese, this is Rose and Rose’s friend, Tiffany.”

“So nice to see you again,” Rose said. “We actually met when you were much younger. Your mom had you at the salon in Nebraska one day when I came in for my appointment. But … you had a long summer’s worth of freckles on your face and pigtails. You’ve grown into a beautiful young woman.”

Fisher stood just inches behind me; I could feel his nearness as Rose made sure we all were reminded of my age. Pigtails and freckles.

Fantastic.

“Thanks.” I forced my manners instead of acting like a disgruntled, pouty child who didn’t get to go out with the adults on a Friday night.