party.” Jasmine’s expression was grim. “Izzy offered to meet her and help. I wanted to check with you before I called her.”
“Let her know about Izzy’s offer, but I doubt that she takes it. She has tried to cut herself off from her family. She said she couldn’t deal with them any longer. I think she had to go this afternoon because nobody else would.”
“That breaks my heart.” Jasmine let out a sigh.
“She has us and she knows that we’ll help.” Hale could only hope that Ashley would ask, if and when she needed them.
“We always say that nothing happens here, but I think we had plenty of action today.” Jasmine shifted positions, curling her legs under her.
“Thanks for the party,” Hale told her friend.
“I don’t think that you had any fun.” Jazz frowned.
“I had some good moments. The thing with Major sort of ruined it for me.”
“I’m glad Izzy was there. He said that you felt like it was one of your mother’s lectures.” Jasmine sat up and reached out for Hale’s hand.
“I had had a run-in with the three witches and then Major and Finn had a back and forth. I wanted a moment of quiet and he wouldn’t leave me alone.” She sighed loudly. “I know he isn’t the man for me, but I thought we could have some fun.”
“So, what’s the attraction, besides that he is Mr. Right Now?”
“I like that he calls when promised and shows up on time,” Hale defended weakly.
“Please, he wears more hair product than you do.” Jasmine broke into giggles.
“The attention feels nice. I know that I can’t date a different man every night.”
“Nor every week. Maybe you can change every third week, but that is pushing it around here with our shortage of decent single men.” Jasmine reminded her.
“Well my phone isn’t ringing, so I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”
“Maybe it isn’t ringing because people see how you are with Finn.”
“Oh please, that’s insane.” Hale laughed. Please God, let her not be that obvious.
“I don’t know. You seemed comfortable with him tonight.” Jasmine eyed her suspiciously.
“He was being nice to me. I’m your best friend and he is close to both of you. Do the math, Jazz. He’s going to be nice to me, to keep the peace.” She hoped that Jasmine would buy that explanation.
Jasmine raised an eyebrow. She didn’t look like she was buying it. “Humph, we’ll see.”
“Yeah, you will.” She prayed that Jasmine didn’t pick up on how unsettled Finn’s proximity made her. She could still feel every place on her body that he had touched tonight.
Chapter Seven
“Oh man, this is the life.” Ashley lay reclining on the loveseat in Hale’s room with a mask on her face and cucumber slices over her eyes. Hale sat on a chair with one foot soaking in the foot tub while the pedicurist worked on her callused heel.
“I wish I could do this every week.” Jasmine was getting her nails painted.
“You do go to the salon every week,” Hale pointed out.
“I mean them coming to my house. Don’t be difficult Birthday Girl,” Jasmine cautioned by shaking one freshly painted finger at her.
“Well it works for you, you always look great.” Ashley was still prone, with her head on two pillows.
“Jasmine has always been beautiful. Growing up, I was totally overlooked when Jasmine was in the room.” Hale pulled her other foot out of the tub. “Beautiful, nice and smart, the total package.”
“Stop it. However, I do appreciate the smart comment. Sometimes I don’t think that anybody notices.”
Hale glanced in Jasmine’s direction.
Jasmine met her best friend’s eyes and did a brief head shake, signaling that she didn’t want to discuss this in front of the others.
“Well, I wish I had that problem.” Ashley couldn’t see the silent communication going on between Hale and Jasmine. “I’m known as the smart girl.”
“Ashley, what are you complaining about? You are pretty and I know that you show off those long legs to their best advantage,” Hale pointed out.
“I guess I’m kinda average.” Ashley agreed.
“Honey, stop that kind of thinking right now,” Jasmine chastised. “You have plenty going for you. You have a bright future.”
Ashley sat up and removed the cucumbers. “I know, just sometimes it gets hard. You know?”
Hale’s tone was gentle. “Yeah, honey, we know.”
The spa people were still upstairs packing up their wares, when the three ladies took their places around the kitchen table.
“Jazz, this food is amazing, perfect for a hot day.” Hale took another bite of her