me up from anywhere.” Jess shook her head, waving away Hayley’s joking concern. “And don’t try to change the subject. I was talking about us having a talk.”
“Okay. Let’s have a talk. What supposed arrangements do you want to talk about?”
“I want to talk about you abandoning me.”
Hayley sat back, surprised. “What?”
“You. Abandoning. Me.” Jess felt her pointer finger go outward and then back in, but it looked funny. Uh-oh. “And how much tequila does Salty put in these things, anyway?”
“A lot. And I apologize for abandoning you. In my defense—in our defense—Kyla and I keep trying to get you to move out here, too.”
“I don’t just mean the part about you abandoning me in the big, mean city. I meant in general. We had a plan.”
“A plan.”
“Yes, a plan. You not getting married was part of that plan. Remember? We were going to be the swinging single chicks at the retirement home? Remember? Roommates on the dementia ward?”
Hayley laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ll totally outlive Daniel, so we can still be roommates.”
“Pfft. You’ll have eight kids by then, and they’ll be fighting to take care of you. You’ll never have to go to a home. Me, on the other hand—I’ll probably be in that scary, smelly place that only hires ex-con nurses’ aides.”
“If I have eight kids, I’ll be in the dementia ward long before you get there, honey.”
“But you’ll be happy, right? You’ll be there with all your friends— friends who maybe will just live in your head, but still. Friends! You’ll have friends who stay with you and love you.”
Hayley reached for Jess’s cup, which Jess realized was a little wobbly. Then she handed her an icy glass.
“Okay, sweets. Time for some water.”
Jess took a gulp. “Water feels so good out here.” She closed her eyes tightly. “Tastes. I mean it tastes so good out here.”
She saw Kyla raise her eyebrows at Hayley. “Maybe it’s time to dance off some of that alcohol?”
“No, I just need to water it down a little. You guys go ahead. I’ll guard the table.” Right. She’d guard. Then she wouldn’t have to try to get to her feet and find out how wobbly they were. How had she gone from being determined not to drink a drop, right straight to flat-out tipsy?
Hayley smirked. “Oh, come on. You probably haven’t danced since last year when we were here.”
“I danced yesterday, sweets. And I think I’m not going to do it again. Not in public, anyway. Cole could come anytime, and I am not dancing in front of him. He’s already had enough entertainment at my expense this week. And furthermore—”
Kyla laughed. “She just said furthermore.”
“Mm-hmm.” Hayley smiled. “And we know what that means.” She made a slicing motion across her neck.
Jess growled. “But I think I discovered I actually like Salty’s tequila. You can’t shut me off now. I’m just getting good at it.”
“Come on, tequila girl. Let’s dance.”
“Nope. I’m fine. You guys g’ahead. I’ll just be sitting right here.”
Hayley smiled. “I’ve already abandoned our life plan. Can’t abandon you at the table, hon. Let’s show these tourists how dancing is done at Salty’s.”
Before she could argue, Kyla had one hand and Hayley had the other, and then she was out on the wooden floor, and her feet were moving. The rhythm of the song was a little screwy—her feet were fine—but other than that, it was okay. She could do this. So maybe she didn’t have the natural grace Cole had. Maybe she’d never learned to line dance. She could still hold her own in a little country bar, right?
She lifted her eyes from where they’d been glued on her feet, and found Kyla and Hayley looking at her with matching expressions. “You two do not look like you’re having fun.”
“Of course we are!” Kyla’s voice was overly bright. “But how about you? You doing okay?”
“I’m fine. Totally fine. Absolutely, splendiferously fine.” Jess nodded her head once, emphatically. “See? I can even say splendiferous. That’s how fine I am.”
They exchanged another look.
“Stop looking at each other. It’s giving me the creepies.”
“The creepies?” Hayley laughed.
“Yes, the creepies. You keep looking at each other like I’m one step shy of the nutter-house. Jeesh, I’m just a little tippy. Tipsy. Yes, tipsy.”
“Tipsy isn’t really your thing, that’s all.” Kyla smiled gently. “We probably should have cut you off about four Jell-Os ago.”
“I’m fine! Totally great! We’re getting married in a few days! I mean, Hayley. Hayley’s getting married in a few days. But we get