Chad looked at her skeptically.
Kate pulled out her phone and texted Ian.
Kate: Chad doesn’t believe I drove your car. Clearly he’s jealous (and delusional).
Ian responded moments later with a picture of Kate behind the wheel, one hand on the gearshift and a smile on her face.
Kate: I had no idea you took my picture.
Ian: You were too busy driving. It’s hot. I made it my lock-screen picture.
Kate handed her phone to Chad. “Look.”
Chad studied the dashboard in the picture. “That is definitely one of the most authentic replicas I’ve ever seen, at least from an interior standpoint.” He turned her phone over, looking at it from several angles. “What kind of phone is this?”
Kate grabbed it back from him. “It’s a special new phone.”
“Who owns the Shelby?” Chad asked.
“A friend of mine.”
Chad laughed. “Not ready to tell your big brother about your new man yet?”
“How do you know I have a new man?”
“Because the only girl a guy is going to let drive his Shelby is one he’s interested in. I hope you didn’t squander the opportunity.”
Kate mouthed the words one hundred and ten. Chad whistled.
“What was that all about?” Diane asked.
Kate and Chad smiled and said, “Nothing.”
Few things were as entertaining as visiting a favorite bar the night before Thanksgiving. It was like a mini class reunion, and Kate looked forward to it every year. Chad handed her and Kristin a beer, and Kate made the rounds, chatting with her friends from high school. Her phone vibrated in her back pocket.
Ian: You are apparently at some sort of honky-tonk in Indianapolis.
Kate: Oh hi, stalker!
Ian: Turn around.
Oh God.
She spun in a circle, heart pounding, eyes searching as she looked for him.
Ian: If I were AT THE BAR, I’d be a stalker. But I’m at my apartment. I’m just taking a break and wondered what you were up to.
Kate: I knew you weren’t really here.
Ian: Sure you did. Are you enjoying yourself?
Kate: I’m having a blast.
Ian: I bet there are peanut shells on the floor and men wearing Western shirts.
Kate: You forgot cowboy boots and buckets of beer.
Ian: Please be mindful of your liver.
Kate took a picture of herself drinking from a longneck bottle of Coors Light and sent it to Ian.
Ian: Who’s the man standing behind you?
Kate clicked over to her photos. Her photobomber had his arms in the air and his tongue extended toward her. Ewwww.
Kate: His name is Russ. We went to high school together.
Ian: He looks completely hammered.
Kate: He said he’s been here since noon.
Ian: Maybe you should move away from him.
Kate: I already did because Kristin and I are about to join the line dancers.
Ian: It’s like a giant hoedown, isn’t it?
Kate: Yee-haw!
Ian: Who’s driving home?
Kate: Chad. He agreed to be the designated driver because he was planted in front of the TV all day while the womenfolk slaved away in the kitchen.
Ian: Sounds like a fair trade.
Kate: I have to go. Two words: Electric Slide.
Ian: Bust a move, tiny dancer. I miss you.
Kate stared down at her phone and smiled.
“Come on, Kate.” Kristin yanked on her arm. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll be right there,” she said.
Kate: I miss you too. xoxo
CHAPTER TWELVE
The Watts family Thanksgiving celebration commenced in a flurry of final dinner preparations followed by the immediate arrival of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and assorted cousins. Kate had already answered the inevitable questions about her career change at last year’s dinner, and this year she fielded multiple follow-up queries about how the food pantry was doing. Unfortunately, she also had to deal with a considerable amount of nosy fallout over her breakup with Stuart.