Page 84 of Too Good to Be True

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“I can hear it in your voice. You’re worried about something.”

“It’s nothing new. I just don’t want this to get out at work, especially not to Fran.”

“Nobody else knows except me, right?”

“One of his new neighbors saw us together. We introduced ourselves.”

“So?”

“So she assumed we lived there together. If she meets Fran and happens to mention my name…”

“Stop overthinking it. Besides, Fran might already have an inkling about you two.”

“What? How?”

“Nick must talk about you. It’s probably obvious to Fran that he likes you.”

“Liking me is one thing. Having sex is quite another.”

Kelsey laughed. “Well, I’m glad one of us is getting some.”

“You should ask Hudson out.” Stacy knew what Kelsey’s response would be, but she was anxious to divert attention away from herself.

“I can’t. My brother would have a fit. Besides, I wouldn’t be surprised if Hudson already has a girlfriend.”

“Has he mentioned someone?”

“I heard him say the name Annie a couple of times, but I have no idea who she is. It could be a relative for all I know.”

“Well, don’t give up on him.”

“I won’t. Especially now that I know dreams really can come true.”

Little did Stacy know her dream would soon turn into a nightmare…

Twenty

After the wonderful weekend she’d had, Stacy went into the office on Monday with a spring in her step. The sun was shining, birds were chirping, and she’d get to see Nick. She had a lot to be happy about it.

However, when she entered the employee lounge to pour her morning coffee, she encountered Britney and two of her closest friends. They were huddled together, coffee cups in hand and whispering. When Stacy walked in, they paused and looked at her with expressions ranging from disdain to guilt to a forced smile (from Britney).

“Good morning,” Stacy said, trying to ignore the bad feeling she had in her gut.

“Morning,” they mumbled almost in unison.

Then the group scurried out the door without another word. Whatever they’d been discussing, they obviously hadn’t wanted anyone to overhear. While they could have been talking about anything, her mind went straight to her and Nick.

The last time Britney would have seen him was Friday night when he’d left the bar and gone to Stacy’s house. But how would Britney have known that unless she’d followed him? Would she have stooped to that?

Stacy was stirring cream into her coffee, still deep in thought, when Fran entered the lounge. She automatically stood up straighter and pasted on a smile. “Good morning, Fran.”

“We need to have a meeting.”

Fran was her usual brisk self, nothing like the doting aunt Stacy now knew her to be. “Sure. When do you want to meet?”