Two of a Kind (Fool's Gold #11)

Isabel and Noelle looked at each other.

“Obviously, you two knew,” Isabel said. “Are you keeping secrets?”

“No one tells us anything,” Noelle told her. “It’s because we’re blondes. They’re jealous.”

“Maybe.” Isabel turned to Felicia. “When did hot monkey sex lead to dating?”

Felicia cleared her throat. “We’re not dating in the traditional sense. We’re going out so he can help me learn how to be more like everyone else.”

“Why is instruction necessary?” Consuelo asked.

“Because I’m a freak,” Felicia said, thinking the answer should be obvious.

“You’re a lot of things,” her friend told her. “Freak isn’t one of them.”

“I’m not like the rest of you.”

“I’m really boring,” Isabel said. “You don’t want to be like me.”

“You’ve been married. You’ve fallen in love. I want that.”

Isabel touched her hand. “You’ll find the right guy. I’m with Consuelo. I’m not sure you need to be practicing.”

Felicia sighed. “There’s something wrong with me. A couple of days ago Denise Hendrix came to see me. She wants a booth in the Fourth of July festival.”

She went on to explain what Denise had been after. When she was done, she leaned back in the booth and waited for their understanding.

Patience’s jaw dropped. “No way,” she breathed. “Seriously? Denise Hendrix is taking applications to find a wife for Ford and Kent?” She turned to Isabel. “So you should apply.”

“No way. I’m not interested in Ford.” Isabel clutched her margarita. “Nope, not interested. It’s been years.” She sighed. “Maybe if he was interested.” She shook her head. “No. Not interested. I’m determined to pretend he doesn’t exist. I’m strong.”

“And a little bit crazy.” Consuelo rolled her eyes. “That booth is going to be nothing but trouble.”

“Denise is the crazy one,” Isabel said. “Ford isn’t going to be happy. I wouldn’t think Kent would be thrilled, either.”

“It’s nice she cares about her sons,” Noelle said. “Even if you have to question the viability of the plan.”

Felicia glared at all of them. “Excuse me,” she said loudly. “You’re missing the point. I was sitting right there. I’m an intelligent, articulate, single woman of breeding age. Why didn’t she ask if I was interested in either of her sons?”

“You already know Ford,” Consuelo said. “Maybe she was thinking if you two were going to get together, it would have happened already.”

“What about Kent?” Felicia asked. “Face it. She never saw me as an option. I don’t know why, but there it is. The truth is I’m different, and I don’t want to be different anymore. I want to be exactly like everyone else. So I’m going to date Gideon until I can figure out how to make that happen.”

Felicia stared at the table, not wanting to see their pitying looks.

“I hope it never happens,” Consuelo said flatly. “You being like everyone else. That would be a shame. I think you’re great, just the way you are.”

Felicia glanced at her friend. “Thank you. I appreciate the support, but I want more than what I have.”

“You should be out there dating, looking for the right guy,” Consuelo told her. “But you don’t need to practice.”

“I can be very awkward.”

“You should have seen me with Justice,” Patience admitted. “I didn’t know what to say when he showed up in the salon a few months ago. I’d been so crazy about him when I was a teenager.” She sighed. “But it all worked out and now we’re getting married.”

“Speaking as the recently divorced,” Isabel said, raising her margarita, “I’m intensely bitter.”

Noelle raised her glass of wine. “Me, too. But in a ‘I’m so happy for you’ kind of way.”

Conversation shifted to potential wedding dates. Patience admitted to wanting a fall ceremony but was concerned about the potential for early snow.

Felicia glanced at the clock and realized it was time to leave. She dropped ten dollars on the table and slid out of the booth. “I have to go,” she told her friends.

“We’ll want a report,” Isabel told her. “With details.”

* * *

“I SHOULD GO, too,” Patience said, when Felicia had left.

“Handsome man waiting at home,” Noelle said with a smile. “I’m envious but understanding.” She paused, frowning slightly. “This has been a happy hour with a full range of emotions. I’m exhausted.”