Page 12 of Until Joy

I stashed my purse in my locker and headed to the front, where July was talking to Kayan. I always liked to arrive early. It was one of my OCD habits that had actually served me well over the years.

“There she is,” July crowed. “Miss Popular herself.”

“Hardly,” I snorted. “I was the bookworm all through high school and my two years of college.” I spread my arms wide. “Look at me, like anybody would be interested in me when I’m standing next to the two of you.”

“I don’t know about that,” July said with a smile. “Rumor has it that someone is interested.”

I frowned.

Kayan looked up at July from her seat at the desk. “Spill,” she demanded. “I haven’t heard anything, and it’s my job to hear things first.”

July buffed her fingers against her white doctor’s coat. “If you’re not careful, you’re going to lose your crown as the town oracle.”

“Will not.” Kayan folded her arms across her chest. “I have too many sources to lose out to you.”

I breathed a sigh of relief as the two women bickered. I was worried that I would be put on the spot about Graham. It looked like I was off the hook if I could just sneak to the back.

“You’re not taking into account I have four sisters, plus their significant others. That trumps your sources.”

I turned around and started down the hall.

“Wait just a minute, where do you think you’re going?” July called out to me. “I want to hear all about your lunches with the luscious Graham Wallace.”

“She’s having lunch with Graham Wallace?” Kayan cried. “That is juicy gossip.” She turned to me. “Yeah, get your tushie back here and spill, girlfriend.”

I walked reluctantly back to the reception area. “It’s nothing. He just comes over to visit Miss Laverne and I happen to be over there, that’s all.”

“How often has he dropped by since he learned that you lived there?” July asked.

“Seven times.” I didn’t have to think about it. All seven times were burned into my memory. It was the beard. No, it was probably the tattoos. No, it was his hazel eyes.

“Look at her. She immediately went into a daze. Did you see that, July?”

“I did.”

“I did not,” I protested. “I was just trying to remember how many times I’ve seen him. He seems like a sweet guy. He brings over groceries for Miss Laverne. The least I can do is bake him cookies and brownies and things.”

“Oh my God,” Kayan whispers. “Z’s been raving about your chocolate caramel brownies. That’s you, right?”

“I guess so, if Graham’s sharing them,” I shrugged.

“Z told me that Graham is all into this woman who bakes for him. That’d be you all right.” She turned and stuck out her tongue at July. “See, I know things. I just didn’t know I knew things.”

“He’s into me? Are you sure? I mean, he’s asked me out three times. But he’s only done that to be nice.”

July let out a dramatic sigh. “Oh, honey, men like Graham don’t just do things ‘to be nice’.” She used her fingers to make air quotes. “And… he also asked Wes to find out about you from me.” She turned to Kayan. “See, I know things, too. But I’m a grown woman, and I’m not going to stick out my tongue.” She gave Kayan the side eye.

“What do you mean he wants to know things about me?” That didn’t sound good at all. Why would someone want to find out things about me? That was creepy.

July must have picked up on the fact that I was freaking out.

“Hey, wait a minute, Joy. Graham didn’t mean it in a bad way. It was just the normal way when one of us has been hit by the boom bat.”

I frowned. “What are you talking about?” I asked sharply. I was still freaked out about a man wanting to spy on me.

“Seriously, chill, honey,” Kayan said soothingly. “The boom is practically legend around here. July had it happen to her, and my Z had it happen to him. Hell, practically anyone with the last name of Mayson has had it happen to them.”

“I don’t get it.”