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“So, did he call you yet?“ Leighanne asked as they were shopping at the mall.

Cassandra shook her head. “No, not yet.“

“Well, I’m sure he’ll call tonight. He goes back to Florida tomorrow night.“

“Doesn’t really matter to me,“ she said as she picked up a blue tank top. “This is cute.“

“It’s bugging you that he hasn’t called, isn’t it?“

“No, I said it doesn’t matter.“

“Yes, it does. I know how that mind of yours works. You’re thinking that he’s like every other guy, so you’re acting all tough about it.“

Cassandra rolled her eyes. “Look, it’s worked before. It keeps me from getting hurt. Is that a crime?“

“Cass, you’re never going to be happy unless you learn to loosen up a little bit. Pull the stick out of your ass and get over yourself.“

Cassandra stared at Leighanne with wide eyes. It was a statement she never expected to hear from her mouth.

“Leighanne!“

“What, it’s true.“

“What is with you today. You’re all weird.“

Leighanne laughed. “Nothing’s with me. It’s you who’s being weird. Stop trying to change the subject. Admit it, you think he’s cute.“

“Okay, he’s not bad looking, but that’s not saying much.“

“What does that mean?“

“It means I think a lot of guys are cute. It doesn’t mean I stand a chance with any of them.“

Leighanne grabbed Cassandra by the arm and looked her straight in the eyes. “I’m going to say this one time and one time only. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. There’s nothing wrong with you.“

Cassandra jerked her arm away and turned around. “You don’t understand.“

“You’re right, I don’t.“

“Leighanne, you’re a beautiful woman and you have the perfect life.“

Leighanne chuckled and rolled her eyes. “My life is not perfect.“

“Oh, please,“ she scoffed. “You have a Christian husband with an amazing job. You’ve got plenty of money. You have a beautiful son. Need I continue?“

“And you could have those things too if you’d stop being so darn cynical. That doesn‘t make my life perfect. I may be blessed, but it‘s not perfect.“

“Name one way your life isn’t perfect and I’ll shut up.“

Leighanne looked at her and laughed. “Alright, here’s the big one. My husband’s a Backstreet Boy.“

“So, what? Big fucking whoop.“

“He’s away from me more than we’re together sometimes. I spend my time talking to him long distance over the phone and I watch millions of girls throw themselves at him. You call that perfect?“

“You get to go on the road with him sometimes.“

“Yes, but I also spend time at home while he’s away. Look, I may trust him and I may not be jealous of the girls, but it doesn’t mean that my life is perfect. I have needs too you know.“

“But he loves you unconditionally, Leigh. You have everything you could possibly want. So, in my eyes, your life is perfect. I’m just a single woman who’s pushing thirty. Do you know what my mother asked me the other day?”

“What?”

“When are you going bring a nice man home with you?” she said in a voice to mock her mother.

Leighanne laughed. “You do that pretty good.”

“Ugh, why do I bother?” she said as she walked away.

Leighanne caught up with her and linked her arm with hers. “I’m sorry, keep talking.”

“It’s just that I can’t answer that question. I don’t know when I’m going to bring a nice man home. Every time I meet a guy, he turns out to be this big jerk. I might as well start buying cats because that’s where my life is headed.”

Leighanne chuckled and shook her head. “No, you’re not going to be a crazy cat lady. Trust me, you’re going to meet a great guy. Who knows, maybe Howie is your Prince Charming.”

Cassandra rolled her eyes. “I highly doubt that.”

“Oh, stop it,” Leighanne said as she pinched her arm.

“Ow! Damn it, Leigh! Stop picking on me.”

Leighanne grinned and pushed her into the toy store. “Help me find something for Baylee.”

“Fine,” she muttered as she followed Leighanne to the Veggie Tales section.

She was searching through the books when she heard her cell phone go off in her purse. Leighanne looked at her and grinned.

“I bet that’s him,” she said with a snicker.

Cassandra rolled her eyes and pulled the phone out of her purse. She glanced at the screen and sure enough, it was a Florida number. She felt her heart skip a beat before she answered the phone.

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s Howie,” he said.

“Oh, hi,” she said casually. “What’s up?”

“Well, it’s my last night in Georgia. I thought we could go out to dinner and maybe some dancing tonight.”

“Well, I sort of have a lot of papers to grade.”

She felt Leighanne smack her with a Veggie Tales book.

“Ouch!” she whispered. “Stop!”

“Hello?” said Howie.

“Sorry, um, okay I guess I could go out for a little while. What time?”

“Maybe around seven. Will that work for you?”

“Sounds good,” she said as she pushed Leighanne away, who was trying to listen.

“Shall I come pick you up? I have a rental car.”

“How about I meet you there. Since you’re not from the area and all.”

“Okay, you pick the place.”

“How about Ocean Zen. You like seafood?”

“Love it,” Howie said. “Okay, I guess I’ll see you at seven.”

“Okay, see you then,” she said then hung up.

She glanced over at Leighanne, who was snickering behind the book she was holding. Cassandra glared at her and threw a stuffed animal at her.

“Stop.”

“I’m sorry,” Leighanne said while laughing. “I’m proud of you. Really, I am.”

“This better be worth it.”

“Take my word for it. Howie’s a sweetheart. You will have a good time. Come on, let me pay for this and we’ll have lunch.”

“Alright,” she said then followed Leighanne to the cash register.