phone calls. He talked about the ranch and his family and how much happier he was since he’d resigned as CEO of Big B Gas and Oil.
In turn, Annie talked about her job search. He listened and gave her some terrific advice, but he never again mentioned the idea of her moving to Dallas. She filled him in on the rest of her life too—her now weekly Girls’ Night Out excursions with Sophie and her friends, the happenings at Esposito’s Used Cars and Bridget’s latest shenanigans. She even told him how Walter and Connie were now an item, something that hadn’t surprised Sam at all.
They talked about books and sports, religion, family, and even politics. There was only one thing they didn’t talk about.
They didn’t talk about them.
No flirting. No hints of romance. No talk of any kind of future. Their relationship had settled into a nice, comfortable friendship, and Annie had never been more miserable.
She slid open her phone screen. Yep. It was a text from Sam. What are you doing?
At my mom’s. About to start book club.
How’s the job search going?
She wanted to tell him that she’d found a job, but this wasn’t something to discuss in a text. This was more of a deep phone conversation. First, however, she had to tell her mother.
I have some big news. I’ll call you tomorrow with an update. She hoped Sam would approve of her decision. If he didn’t … Well, Annie didn’t want to think about that.
Oh. Okay. He texted back.
Then nothing.
Annie was about to put her phone away when she saw that Sam was typing again. Did you know that tonight is the reunion special for Single Gal?
I know two people who won’t be watching. She punctuated her text with a laughing emoji.
I’m going to be on the show.
Ha ha!
You should watch. I’m interested in what you think. Let’s talk afterward. Wish me luck. Got to go.
What? Sam was going to be on the Single Gal reunion special? Why on earth would he do that? He hated the show. At least, he hated the publicity surrounding the show.
A wiggly-worm sensation crept through her stomach. This made no sense. The Sam DeLuca she’d gotten to know over the past month would never agree to be on reality TV again, nor would he even joke about it.
Annie slipped her phone into the back pocket of her jeans, then walked into the family room to find Mom, Millie, and Charlotte sitting on the couch, huddled together, talking. They spotted her, then quickly broke apart.
“Annie!” Mom’s eyes went wide. “You’re early.”
“Really? I thought I was just on time.”
“Early for you,” Millie clarified. “You’re usually always running late. On account of work.”
Charlotte nodded.
Okay, this was weird. She was the one who had the big news, but they were the ones acting like they had a secret. She glanced around the room. Everything looked the way it normally did on book club night. Copies of the Jodi Picoult novel along with three empty wineglasses fought for space on the magazine-strewn coffee table. The only thing out of the norm was that the TV was turned on. It appeared that someone was winning big on Wheel of Fortune.
“How is everyone?” Annie took her usual seat in Pop’s La-Z-Boy recliner.
“We’re fine. How are you?” Mom asked with an emphasis that reinforced Annie’s earlier suspicion. Something was definitely up.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“On?” Charlotte laughed nervously.
Oh boy. This must be really bad.
Mom’s gaze flitted to the TV, where the ending credits to Wheel of Fortune rolled across the screen. “Oops!” She scurried to turn off the set. “We don’t need to see that, now do we?”
Twenty-nine years of being Carol Esposito’s daughter had taught Annie a thing or two. “I think I know what this is about. Tonight’s the Single Gal reunion special.”
“You know about that?” said Charlotte.
It’s time she came clean about her relationship with Sam.
“Sam just texted me. He’s going to be on the show. I guess this means we won’t be having book club tonight, huh?”
Mom nearly wilted in relief. “Thank God you know!”
“We were afraid you’d be upset,” said Millie.
“What do you mean he texted you?” Charlotte asked. “Are you telling us that you’ve been in touch with Gas Station Sam since … the, um …”
“Since the Good Morning, USA segment?” She nodded. “We’ve been calling and texting for the past few weeks.”
Mom perked up. “Really?”
“We’re just friends, Mom.”
Millie snickered. “I wouldn’t mind being just friends with that hottie. Now that it’s out