sense. Sometimes your true path cannot be discovered without first losing your way.”
Journey
“I’ll be back before you know it, Kelsey.” Journey traipsed through her house, picking up items to pack as she went. “Why, sure. You just let me know what you need, and I’ll mail it to you. No big deal. Okay. Bye.”
Buzz!
“Doorbell.” Whirling around, she hurried to the front. “Coming!”
Once she peeped through the hole, she undid the locks to allow Lou to enter. “Hey, girl.”
“Hey, yourself.” The pretty blonde gave Journey a hug. “I’m sorry I kept this so long.” She held out a piece of luggage she’d borrowed. “It sure came in handy for that anthropology conference. I need to splurge and get some nice luggage one day.”
Journey took the piece of luggage, waving off her friend’s apology. “Not a problem. Bringing this back gives us an excuse to get together. Besides, as smart as you are, you’re going to be rich someday and I’ll be borrowing from you.”
“Ha!” Lou barked a laugh. “Scientists are rarely rich. Especially ones in my field.”
“What? You’re working on your second doctorate. From what you’ve told me physics is fascinating.”
“Fascinating, yes. Lucrative, no. And I’m bogged down in research for my dissertation.”
“I’m sorry,” Journey sympathized. “Would a margarita make you feel better? Or is it too early?”
“Oh, hell yes it would make me feel fine and dandy.” Lou laughed. “Besides, it’s five o’clock somewhere.”
“So true.” Journey led the way to the kitchen. “Just step over my mess. I have everything pulled out to put in the car. Oils. Jars. Shipping boxes. You name it.”
“Looks like you’re planning on being gone for a month.” Lou stepped over one box full of essential oils and another filled with empty cosmetic containers as she moved to the kitchen to hop up on a bar stool.
“Thanks for returning this bag, by the way.” Journey tossed the empty weekender onto the couch as she passed. “I don’t really know how long I’ll be gone. Truth is, I need to get out of the city for a while.”
“Oh, really? What’s going on?”
Journey made a cute growling noise deep in her throat as she took two glasses from the cabinet and filled them with margarita mix and tequila. “Casey blew me off for our date this weekend.”
“Seriously? Why?”
“His ex-wife snapped her fingers and he went running home to offer comfort. He said she’d broken up with her new boyfriend and needed to talk.”
“What a jerk!” Lou accepted a goblet from her friend and patted the stool next to her. “I guess he’s not ready to move on.”
After a long sip, Journey licked the salt from her lips. “I suppose I wasn’t incentive enough.”
“That’s bull hockey.”
Lou’s dry exclamation made Journey laugh. “I’ll drink to that.” She lifted her glass in a salute.
“To hell with him, Journey. Casey Stark isn’t good enough for you anyway.”
“Not by a long shot.” With a frustrated groan, she bent to rest her forehead on the counter. “Lou, I’ve dated six different men since New Year’s Eve, and I wasn’t able to connect with any of them. What’s wrong with me?”
“Not a damn thing.” Lou drained her glass and reached for the pitcher to pour a refill. “You’re just meeting the wrong kind of man. Maybe you’re not looking in the right place.”
This thought made Journey giggle. “Uh, let’s see. I met Casey at a bar. Will at the carwash. Jeremy online. Hamlet at…”
“That Hamlet.” Lou giggled, swirling the lime green concoction in her glass. “He was a weird one.”
“I met him at Torchy’s Tacos. He was okay.”
“Yea, okay for a dude who lives in his mother’s basement.”
“True.” She pushed her half-empty glass away. “I don’t even remember the other two, much less where I met them.”
Lou studied Journey’s face with a narrowed gaze. “Are you still sleeping with that guy’s picture under your pillow?”
The question made Journey jump a bit. “Who?”
“You know who. That cowboy. Rio.”
“Reno.” She stood up and grabbed the empty weekender. “Come with me. I need to finish packing my clothes.”
“So, you don’t know how long you’ll be gone?” Lou picked up a stack of Journey’s folded underwear as she passed the dining table.
“No, I don’t. Depends on how long my great uncle…lingers.”
“Oh, sorry. I keep thinking this is more of a vacation for you than a family thing.” Lou walked to the bed and placed the pretty panties and bras next to a stack of jeans and shirts.
“I’m looking forward to housesitting for my aunt. I love being at