Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Hanging around Boomer and his friends was having an effect on her. They were happy and positive, and she enjoyed their company. Even MaeBe, who she’d tried to hold herself back from because it was hard to like the girlfriend of her crush, but Mae was fun to be around.
Though it was odd how much she talked about her old boyfriend, Kyle. It made her wonder how long Mae and Boomer had been together. It couldn’t possibly be long since Mae seemed so raw about her ex. Boomer didn’t seem to mind, though. He simply gave his girlfriend the sympathy she seemed to need.
“I hope this works.” If she only had to pay for the parts, it would feel like a miracle. Although she should absolutely offer to pay for Noelle’s time. The woman was a highly paid scientist working at a think tank in the city. It had surprised her when Boomer had introduced Noelle as the person who could fix her oven. Naturally she’d been expecting a man.
And why? Women could fix things. Women had to fix things most of the time. She’d looked at Noelle and seen what the world wanted her to—a delicate woman who used a heavy cane to walk. She’d seen through the lenses that had been placed on her eyes at a young age and wondered if Boomer was playing a joke on her.
Maybe it was long past time to take off those glasses and start seeing the world with fresh eyes.
“We’ll know in a couple of minutes,” Noelle assured her as she expertly set the oven. “I want to make sure it’s getting to the proper temperature. I’m sorry it took so long for the parts to come in.”
“Well, I bought it secondhand, and I didn’t exactly ask for the owner to change the registration to my name. If I had, I could have easily ordered them from the manufacturer.” She had to cut costs where she could, but it often ended up biting her in the ass. “Can I compensate you for your time? I feel bad that you’ve had to come out on your lunch break.”
Noelle waved her off. “No problem. I’m two train stops away, and it’s not like I’m punching a clock. I’m happy to help. And there is a way you can pay me back. You can let me sit in on one of your macaron baking sessions. I can’t get mine to come out right. They taste fine, but they don’t look the way they should.”
“You’ve got to smack that tray a certain way.” Daphne loved that Noelle was a baker. They’d bonded over recipes and baking stories. Noelle was also from Southern Louisiana and had grown up on Cajun and Creole foods, so she was willing to share those recipes with Daphne. “I make them every Thursday. You’re welcome to come and help me. I’ll show you the ways of the macaron.”
She had friends for the first time in forever, and that felt good.
And all because Boomer had welcomed her and Lou into his world.
“Thanks.” Noelle packed up her tools. “So how are things going with you and Boomer? I promised my husband I wouldn’t ask because Boomer is apparently taking things slow, but I’m curious. You make the cutest couple.”
“I’m sorry. What?” Was Noelle joking with her? The whole group was on the sarcastic side. She’d now attended two game nights hosted at Boomer and MaeBe’s place, and she’d had more fun than she’d had in years. It reminded her that she’d had friends in high school and college. Then she’d moved and been dependent on Dennis for her social activities, and none of those included games called Lizard Wizard or Ticket to Ride. If Dennis and his friends deigned to play a game, it would be them quizzing each other on math and science. While she’d played games, Lou had spent time with Theo Taggart’s kids, TJ and Devi. They were teaching her how to play video games, and hearing her little girl laugh and be a kid was marvelous, too.
But now she had to wonder if she’d given off vibes she hadn’t meant to give off. Had Noelle picked up on the fact that she was hopelessly fascinated with Boomer Ward?
Noelle looked perfectly serious. “You and Boomer. I was wondering how it’s going. Shit. Do you not like him that way? It seems like you do, but I could be wrong. I shouldn’t have asked, but Boomer is such a special guy, and he’s been happy lately.”
“He has a girlfriend.” Was this some rite of passage? Was Noelle trying to look out for MaeBe?
Noelle stopped, her jaw dropping slightly. “Oh, you think Boomer and Mae are together.” Her head shook vigorously. “No. Not at all. They’re friends and nothing more. She’s…I’m not sure how much to say about this. I’m going to give you the broad strokes. Mae shouldn’t be alone right now, so the group is moving her around. She’s already stayed with me and Hutch for a while. I think she’s moving to Erin and Theo’s this weekend and will stay there while Theo’s in San Francisco on a job that Boomer was supposed to go on, but he wanted to stay in Dallas so he could hang out with you and Lou.”