Coming Home to Seashell Harbor (Seashell Harbor #1) - Miranda Liasson Page 0,28

was thrilled for Darla’s good health and good fortune and for being together with her friends.

“And now I want some gossip,” Darla said.

Kit sighed. “The only juicy gossip I have these days involves who stole a kiss in the play kitchen at day care.”

“Was it the teacher?” Darla asked.

“No. It was two four-year-olds.”

“Then you’re right,” Darla said. “That is pathetic. Aren’t any of us getting laid?”

“Don’t look at me.” Kit shook her head. “I’m a frazzled mom. I’m barely keeping it together.”

“Any potential with the guys at work?” Darla asked. Kit’s job of processing claims and scheduling at the auto body shop was stressful, mainly because of her awful boss. She was biding her time there, saving money with the goal of finishing her psychology degree.

Kit snorted. “Well, one of the auto body specialists did tell me last week that I didn’t need any body work myself.”

“Wow,” Darla said. “That’s a pickup line?”

“Don’t be too hard on him,” Kit said. “He’s only twenty-one.”

Darla blinked and smiled slowly.

“Don’t even go there. Why would I have any interest in a twenty-one-year-old?” Kit rolled her eyes, even as she blushed. “Hadley! Your turn. Please.”

“Hold on a sec,” Darla said. “Why not go for a twenty-one-year-old? Could be fun.”

“No thanks,” Kit said. “I have a four-year-old, remember? I don’t want to date anyone who even remotely makes me feel like their mother.”

“Hadley, how about you?” Darla asked. “Any prospects?”

“Oh, no.” She held her hands up in defense as they both turned to look at her. “I’m definitely not interested in dating. Besides, considering I’m in every grocery store tabloid right now, no guy would dare to come near me unless he wants his face blasted all around the country.”

“It will die down,” Darla said. “It may take until Cooper gets himself in trouble all over again, but it will die down.”

Kit showed her agreement by clinking glasses with Darla. Her friends had never liked Cooper. Neither had Gran, whom he’d constantly called “Granny,” much to her chagrin. Hadley definitely should’ve paid more attention to that.

“What was it like,” Kit asked, “seeing Cam again after all this time?”

Hadley’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name, making her far more uncomfortable than she wanted to be. “No big deal,” she said a little too quickly. “I mean, all that was a long time ago, you know?” For some reason, she’d rather talk about Cooper’s bad behavior than Cam.

“That was always so weird,” Darla said, “how he dumped you just like that”—she snapped her fingers—“right before you both left for college.”

“No, it wasn’t,” Hadley interjected. “He was destined to be a phenomenon even back then. He didn’t want his hometown honey getting in the way.” That was the truth, no matter what Cam said now about being an idiot. He’d wanted his freedom, and when he’d started getting all kinds of notoriety for playing football, he’d wanted to play the field. So he’d dumped her.

It still stung. It was also wildly similar to what she’d just been through with Cooper. How had she missed the signs…a second time?

“Cam’s definitely enjoyed the perks of celebrity life,” Darla said. “A different girlfriend every few months.”

“I saw him out to dinner with his sister last week at Stargazer’s,” Kit said. The popular restaurant was just outside of town. “After dinner, he took photos with a family. Signed autographs too. All with a smile on his face.”

“What’s not to smile about?” Darla asked. “I’d love to be a multimillionaire and retire at thirty-five.”

“Not to excuse him,” Kit said, “but it was probably a terrible blow to have to stop playing when he was at the top of his game.”

Darla frowned. “That doesn’t give him the right to steamroll all over Hadley’s grandma.”

“I’m not going to let that happen,” Hadley said. Despite her resolve to save Pooch Palace, she couldn’t help thinking about what it must be like for Cam. Even as a young man, he was determined to succeed. To go places. He worked harder than anyone she’d ever known, and she could only imagine what a blow it must be to never be able to play football again. “I mean, I wish him well.” She paused. “As long as he stays away from my grandma.”

“Well, he’s certainly not bad to look at,” Kit said.

“And he seems to have charmed your grandmother,” Darla said. “Just make sure he doesn’t work his old magic on you.”

“Ha!” said Kit. “He might have that effect on all the women in your