Texting With the Enemy (Digital Dating #1) - Marika Ray Page 0,46

I wanted to have again.

“I need the details from your epic date last night! Did you kiss again? Is he ‘the one’?” Ashley looked ready to pop right out of her black Dr. Martens and get busy planning our wedding.

Her enthusiasm made my insides want to curl up and die. “No,” I managed to say before spinning and walking into the living room.

I could hear Ashley clomping behind me. “Oh no! What’s happened? Do I need to kill him? I’ve got bleach in the car and I know a perfect spot to bury the body.”

I sat on the couch and pulled my knees up to my chest. “First of all, why do you have bleach in your car, you little freak? Secondly, while I appreciate you offering to commit a felony for me without hesitation, I think you need to slow your roll.”

Ashley pouted, but sat down next to me. “That bleach has saved many a bride who’s spilled something on her precious dress, I’ll have you know.” She grabbed my hand and squeezed. “And I’ll commit a felony for you any day. Just say the word.”

I squeezed her back. Her heart was in the right place. “Thanks, Ash. But seriously, I don’t want Boston dead. I just never want to see him again.”

“What did he do?”

It physically hurt to explain it, the rehash made me cringe all over again. “Remember that day at the festival when Chad gave me his number?” At Ashley’s nod, I continued. “Well, he actually gave me Boston’s number. This whole time I’ve been texting Chad, I was actually texting Boston.”

“That jerk!” Ashley looked ready to march right out of here and defend my honor.

“I know, right? I think I was really falling for Boston.” I felt tears pooling in my eyes again.

Ashley frowned. “No. I meant Chad is such a jerk.”

Now it was my turn to frown. “What do you mean? Boston was the one who lied.”

“Well, yeah, that wasn’t ideal, but it was Chad who thought switching numbers would be a fun joke. That wasn’t Boston’s fault.”

I paused, running that through my head. “Okay, I see what you’re saying, but he should have told me right away that it wasn’t Chad.”

“For sure, but he probably didn’t want to hurt your feelings. I mean, that was a crappy joke Chad played on you.”

I frowned harder. “Whose side are you on here, Ashley?”

She patted my knees. “Calm down, sweets. I’m always on your side. I’m just saying it wasn’t all Boston’s fault. Though I can see how what he did would feel like a total betrayal. So did he apologize? Did you both decide to quit dating?”

I stared at her like she’d grown a second head. “Ash, I ran out of there like my dress was on fire. I’m pretty sure Boston got the message that we aren’t dating.”

Someone pounded on my door and I knew my luck had run out. That had to be Frank. “Hold on a second.” I stood and got the door, wondering why Ashley seemed surprised that I’d walked out on Boston. What was I supposed to do, sit there and continue the date while pretending he hadn’t ripped my heart out of my chest and stomped on it? Never mind the layer of humiliation that had pressed in on all sides.

“Mom?”

“Did you know you can use the internet to ask a stranger to drive you places?” Mom stood on my doorstep in a pair of khaki shorts with enough pockets to pass for a tackle box. Her big black brace was strapped to her knee, matching the two splints on her wrists.

“What are you wearing? And please explain the stranger comment. Do I need to put you in the witness protection program and change your name to Susan?”

Mom wrinkled her nose. “I don’t now, nor have I ever, looked like a Susan, spank you very much.” She waltzed into my house and tossed a casual hello to Ashley who was like another reluctant daughter to her. “Sam the Uber driver was kind enough to cart my broken bones over here. Did you know it’s already a scorcher out there? Figured I’d give my new fancy shorts a go. Got them on sale at that new online sporting goods store.”

“In the fishing department?” Ashley mumbled so low I almost didn’t catch it.

I’d have to address the shorts with Mom another time. “So what are you doing here?”

Mom had a seat on the recliner and we waited while she mashed all