Page 3 of Too Good to Be True

“Mom!”

They all laughed again.

“Yes. He’s in his twenties, and she’s forty. But I read the synopsis, and it sounds really good.”

Kelsey gave Stacy a reassuring smile. Of everyone there, she knew Stacy the best, including what she’d been through in recent years. “You don’t have to convince us. I’m sure it’ll be good.”

“If nothing else, it’ll make for an interesting discussion next time,” Karen said.

Stacy passed the book around so everyone could look at it, and a few of them went on their phones to order their copies.

Since it was Thursday night and everyone had to work the next day, the meeting soon broke up. Stacy walked her friends to the door, except for Kelsey, who hung back.

They went into the kitchen to talk while Stacy cleaned up.

“Did I mention my cousin Randy is five years younger than you?”

Stacy set down the dirty dishes and planted her hands on her hips. “Very funny. But I already told you, no more blind dates.”

“How else are you supposed to meet someone? No offense, but most days, you go from work to yoga to home.”

“I go out.”

“Hardly.”

Stacy sighed. “I want to meet someone the natural way, not online and not via blind dates set up by my well-meaning friends. If it’s not meant to be, I’ll be fine. I have my job, good friends, and books. What more do I really need?”

“This is me you’re talking to. I know you get lonely.”

“I’m getting better. Besides, I’m so busy at work I don’t have any energy left over for a relationship. It’s probably better this way.”

Kelsey nodded, although she didn’t look convinced.

Stacy put the last dish in the dishwasher and then walked her friend to the door.

“See you at work tomorrow,” Kelsey said. “Oh, and since it’s Friday, we should go out for drinks after work.”

“Yes. See, I told you I go out.”

“That’s not the same, and you know it.”

Stacy faked a yawn.

“Fine. I’m leaving.”

“Don’t forget to order the book.”

“I won’t,” Kelsey called as she went out the door.

After Stacy locked up, she took her new romance book and went upstairs. Books were the only things she took to bed these days, but she didn’t want to think about that right now.

She quickly changed into her pajamas, washed her face, brushed her teeth, and then climbed into her king-sized bed. What a shame I don’t have anyone to share it with, she thought. On the bright side, she’d been sleeping better than ever since nobody was there to disturb her with their snoring, or worse, farting. She could sprawl out in the middle of the bed if she wanted to, although she rarely ever did.

Some habits die hard, and she’d slept on the same side of the bed for years. One of the first things she’d done after he had left was buy new bedding, so at least there was that.

She cracked open the book, and then she remembered her reading glasses. Sighing, she picked them up from the nightstand and put them on. She’d felt old when she’d complained to the optometrist that she was having trouble reading, especially at night. The doctor had assured her that she wasn’t old and her eyes were probably fatigued from using them all day.

Age. She’d been thinking about that a lot lately as she approached her thirty-sixth birthday. Thirty-six years old, and what did she have to show for it?