Page 8 of Driving Beats
I appreciate his rolling with my conversation. “Luke arranged for Nese to shop for me. I have to go along as the hanger and try things on.”
My best friend chuckles. “So you’re a clothes hanger today for a twenty-year-old? I wish I could get a video of this!”
“Ha ha asswipe. This should take like two hours max, then I’m going to the Thai place near The Grove.”
“Oh, damn. I love that restaurant. How about Hayden and I meet you there?”
“Thought that might get your attention. If I’m lucky, I’m thinking lunch there.” Or late lunch. This whole shopping thing better not last longer than that.
Background noise in the form of a female voice floats through his receiver. “Hold on a sec, Hayden’s here.” While I hear him ask her if she wants to come to the Grove for lunch, I can’t make out her response. A second later, Río gets back on the phone. “Hey, no can do. Hayden reminded me about a meeting we have with a PI.”
Even as I make a right turn, my posture stiffens. “A PI? What’s that about?”
“Hayden convinced me to look into my biological mother’s story. As a precaution, ’cause I think I want to meet her.”
My eyebrows raise above my sunglasses. “Wow. Your fiancée must have some pretty powerful mojo to get you to do that. Your mother’s been out of the picture forever.”
“Yeah, well Hayden made me see some things I might have overlooked before. It’s worth exploring.”
“Good for you. Closure is important before you move forward into the next big change in your life.”
“Very true words, bro. For me, Hayden’s the one, you know.”
I smile. While love isn’t for me anymore, I can see how it’s benefiting my best friend. He’s so much more settled, less reckless, when she’s around. “Glad to hear it.”
“Well, Hayden’s doing a striptease with her towel”—in the background Hayden yells—“so I better scram. Good luck shopping!” To the sound of Río’s laughter, I disconnect the call.
Dick.
The GPS directs me to make a left, which promptly plunges me into traffic-light hell. To make the trip as upbeat as possible, I call 007, who picks up on the second ring.
“How are you doing, Coop? Did your luggage ever show up?” For the second time today, I tell the sad story of my missing bags, minus the precious lost photo—he doesn’t need another reminder of his best friend. He asks, “What’s your plan?”
My man knows I always have a plan. Or get one as soon as my mind can wrap around whatever the situation is. “Luke told Nese to buy me a new wardrobe.”
“Great solution. Will the stuff be delivered to your house?”
My finger taps the steering wheel. “A very good question. I asked it several times. But the answer is no—I’m required to physically shop with her.”
“Ouch. I know what you think of clothes shopping. But at least you’ll get a trendy wardrobe out of the deal.”
“Do you know me at all? Do I look like I want trendy?” So much for keeping my Zen.
“Well, no, but we all could use some help in the off-work department. You just got there first.” He pauses. “Except for Tris, of course. He’s our fashionista.”
“Lucky me,” I grumble. “At the expense of missing the first week of my retreat.”
“Oh shit. That sucks. You said there are several weeks, though, right?”
“Yeah. There are four. I was hoping to attend all of them, but I’ll definitely make it to the last three. Still will be good. Besides, I don’t have anything at all that fits me, so it’s not like I had any options.”
“Guess we should lay off on the M&M’s on tour,” 007 quips.
“And burgers and beer and greasy, fried food.” I smile. “Then, what on earth would we eat?”
“Damned if I know!”
My GPS announces I’m one thousand feet away from my destination, so I end the call with 007 and pray for a parking spot. I must’ve done something right in this morning’s meditation, because a spot in front of the store opens up as I approach.
