Flirting with Forever: A Hot Romantic Comedy by Claire Kingsley

Author:Claire Kingsley [Kingsley, Claire]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Always Have, LLC
Published: 2023-03-15T16:00:00+00:00

21

NORA

My shoes hit the pavement in a steady rhythm as I ran alongside Everly. She was dressed in a yellow tank top and black shorts, her blond hair in a ponytail. Sweet baby Ella—who wasn’t really a baby anymore, but a toddler—was along for the ride in a running stroller. She wore yellow like her mommy, her wispy blond hair in two tiny pigtails.

We’d met for an early evening run, taking our old route out and back from the parking lot across from Brody’s Brewhouse. Hazel was out of town at a conference and Sophie had plans with her mother-in-law, so it was just me and Everly and her sunshine baby.

I didn’t mind. Although I tended to scoff—and maybe even complain—about the running habit Everly and Hazel had forced upon me years ago, I had to admit it was good for me. I’d never become a runner who loved the act of running. But I did like having completed a good workout.

And let’s be honest, I needed something to counteract my love of dirty martinis. Especially because I was no longer twenty-five.

My brain chose that moment to remind me of the time that mover had called me ma’am. The nerve of him.

“Are you okay?” Everly asked.

“Do you ever get ma’amed?”

“I do, but I think it’s a mom thing. It’s only happened when I have Ella with me.”

“Well that doesn’t make me feel better.”

“When did you get ma’amed?”

“It was a while ago, when I was moving. I don’t know why I thought of it again.”

Our finish line came into sight so we slowed to a walk to cool down.

“Don’t let it get to you,” she said. “Remember when we were in our early twenties? People in their thirties seemed so much older than us.”

“True. And I don’t feel like a ma’am.”

“You don’t look like one either.”

“Thanks, my love. Neither do you. Even when you have our precious girl with you. You’ve never been prettier.”

She beamed at me. “Thank you. Oh, before I forget, the foundation is putting on a black-tie casino night. You’ll get an official invitation but I wanted to let you know ahead of time. I really want you to be there.”

Everly was the executive director for a charitable foundation backed by the brilliant and exceedingly wealthy aerospace mogul, Cameron Whitbury. She absolutely loved her job, and her boss. I kind of wondered what that would be like.

“I can’t wait. I love your events.”

“I’m hoping you can help me find a great dress.”

There were few things I loved more than helping style my friends. “I’d be offended if you didn’t ask.”

We stopped near our cars to stretch. Ella sang her toddler version of the ABC song where every letter was P. She didn’t quite get the tune right, either, but it was adorable.

“Do you have time to go in?” I asked, gesturing to Brody’s across the street.

She checked her watch. “Sure. Let me just text Shepherd to let him know we’ll be a little longer.”

“Wouldn’t want him worrying about his girls.

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