“I’m pretty sure this is illegal,” Harper whispered as we sat in Audrey’s sleek, red 4Runner.

“Relax. It’s only illegal if you get caught,” Riley breathed out in quiet laughter. We all turned to her with wide eyes. “Kidding. Sitting in your car on a street is not illegal. Now, if you got out of your car and say—walked around her property, snooped in her windows, and stomped on her daisies, different story.”

“Oh my gosh, nobody is leaving this car,” Harper loud-whispered at us, leaning over Audrey’s seat to push the door locks, like that would magically keep everyone in the car.

“I can’t say it isn’t tempting. It’s really dark outside, too,” I said, transfixed on Perky Librarian’s house. Once Riley said she had her address, I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist the chance to check out her place. It was weird, but I had to do it.

“We aren’t going,” Harper screeched again, trying her best to talk some sense into me.

“You know, I think I saw my dog run into her backyard,” Audrey said, bailing out of the car.

“You don’t even have a dog. Get back here, right now,” Harper said as she too vacated the car. Riley and I looked at each other, shrugged, and then took off to join them.

“Daisies are the stupidest flower. What the hell is her problem with planting them everywhere?” Audrey said, scowling at the happy flowers, bobbing all around as we passed by more clumps of them beside Perky Librarian’s house. “No class, I tell you. This woman has no class, planting these dumb flowers everywhere. Why couldn’t she add a tulip or a hydrangea? Now those are classy flowers, right, Riley?”

Riley turned, glaring at her. “Do you think perhaps we could not use our real names when we’re busy stalking someone?”

“Ohhhhh, okay. Gotcha. Code names. I’ll be Jessie. Could be a girl’s name or a boy’s name, so it’ll confuse ’em.”

“Oh my God, I think she’s in the kitchen,” I whispered, stepping on a rock beside the house to get a better look. “She’s baking something—muffins?” I said, as my heart stopped, thinking that she was baking them for Jason. It looked like she had cookies sitting on racks, cooling. “Son of a bitch. I think she made chocolate chip cookies, too.”

The kitchen was actually very sweet and kitschy. White and red checkered tablecloth, tiny red tile backsplash, and white cupboards with red accents all over the rest of the kitchen. Shit, she even had a red KitchenAid mixer. This chick meant business. No wonder she had no money to fix her car.

“Let’s go around the back. We’ll be able to see better,” Audrey suggested, not waiting for permission.

“No, stay here. We’ve gone far enough,” Harper lectured her as she followed her to the backyard. I gave in, heading their way when I heard a splash and Audrey scream.

“Ah.” Oh crap, she’d fallen into something, something wet—a pond? She was on her hands and knees, so it wasn’t too deep. I hoped she was all right, but I was more concerned for any fish swimming in there. Lily pads floated around her. It would have been hilarious if we hadn’t been there for nefarious reasons. Actually, it was pretty funny anyway.

“Run,” Riley yelled.

We all turned to run, but our efforts were in vain. “I’m stuck. Damn, I can’t get my foot out of here,” Audrey said.

“Shit, shit, shit,” Riley chanted, scurrying back to help our fallen friend. Instead of running off, Harper and I just stood there, hoping she’d free Audrey quickly.

“What’s going on out here?” a sweet voice called from the back door as a brightness shone over the entire yard. We were caught. My heart raced and I nearly screamed.

“My friend saw her dog come back here, but then she fell into your water display. We’re really sorry about the mess. Jessie here will reimburse you for whatever damage she caused,” Riley said with a silky, confident voice.

“Oh no, let me help,” Perky Teacher said, tiptoeing on the perfect, lush lawn to assist the liars. God, she really was cute. Waves of red hair draped over her shoulders, shining like fire in the spotlight of the backyard. She had on tight yoga shorts and a yoga bra that showed off her perfectly toned body.

“Chelsea? Is that you?” Harper asked, her head cocked quizzically to the side.

“Harper?”

“I thought that was you,” Harper said, a strained smile emerging. “Um, how are you?”

Perky Teacher laughed. “Good. How’s Ava? We missed her at class last week.” Ava was Jack’s daughter from a previous relationship. Harper bonded almost instantly with the little girl. Well, after she and Jack ironed out a few things.

Jack had kept Ava’s existence a secret from Harper during the first part of their relationship. When Harper found out about Ava, let’s just say she was none too pleased that the big, handsome idiot had kept secrets from her. They worked it out, though, and now everyone was golden.

“She had a stomach thing, so we kept her home.”

“Aw, poor little girl. Hope she’s better,” Perky Teacher said in a cute, high-pitched octave. They talked for a bit about Ava’s gym class. Apparently, Perky Teacher was also a gymnastics teacher. Spare me. Even her name was perfect.

After moving a few rocks, then helping her set the water feature back up again, Perky Teacher insisted we come in so Audrey/Jessie could get her foot treated. “No, really, I feel awful. Your foot looks terrible. Let me at least wrap it up for you. I just made a batch of cookies and they’re delicious.”

We introduced ourselves, real names and all, then followed the Perfect, Perky Teacher back into her house. Good Lord, I was going to hell for this. I stared at Riley with my mouth open, waiting for some words of wisdom.

“Chill out and follow along,” she ordered into my ear as I passed by her.

A few minutes later, Harper whispered, “This is crazy,” as we sat in Chelsea’s kitchen.

“Crazy smart if you ask me,” Audrey said. “Now we get a front row seat to what Vivienne’s up against.” Cookie crumbs fell willy-nilly as she chomped into a delicious chocolate chip cookie.

These were better than mine. Shit. It was all I could do to stop myself from asking her how she got them so moist. Maybe if I ate a few more I’d figure it out.

“Jessie, can you come into the living room? The light is better here,” Chelsea called from the other room. “Feel free to bring in the baking.”

Audrey’s eyes widened. “You heard the lady,” she said, scooping the plate of cookies and muffins up, carrying it with her as she hobbled away.

“This is so wrong. We shouldn’t be here,” I said to Riley and Harper.

“I would have thought you’d be more concerned about Jessie’s lost dog,” Riley questioned with a grin, one eyebrow raised.

We followed Audrey into the living room just as the front door swung open. In strode a tall, dark, and handsome man. His entire physique screamed GQ cover.

“Well, ain’t you a tall drink of water?” Audrey said, clearly stating what the rest of us were thinking. A cocky smile spread over Mr. GQ’s face.

“Chelsea, everything all right? I heard some commotion. Thought I’d come over and check on you.”

“We’re fine, Chad. Thanks.” She made introductions, during which Chad made a point of shaking our hands.

“Okay if I steal a few?” he said, pointing to the baking.

“Pfft, you don’t have to ask,” Chelsea said, motioning her hand toward the plate on the coffee table.

They made small talk, during which I decided to wander around her living room. There was a wall with photos that drew my attention. The frames were all different, giving it a surprisingly cool vibe.

Chelsea’s hair stood out. It wasn’t hard to spot her in the photos. She was an adorable kid in the photos with the people I assumed were her parents. The pictures changed near the middle of the collection. She stood or posed with a man. Maybe an uncle?

Farther down, my heart stopped. It was Jason, his arm around her neck. They looked at each other with love and joy in their hearts. My knees weakened. Those cookies soured in my stomach.

“Vivienne, what’s wrong? We were asking you a…holy crap. Is that Jason?” Riley said, removing the frame from the wall.

“Oh, do you know my cousin, Jason?” Chelsea said, gazing up from wrapping Audrey’s foot.

“Cousin,” I whispered, holding onto Riley for support. That bastard could have told me that Perky Teacher was his cousin. What an ass.

I’d been lazing around, not accomplishing much of anything except staring at the ever-blank white screen of death again. Since I broke up with Vivienne—again—I hadn’t been able to write a fucking word—again. Just like last time.

This was supposed to have the opposite effect.

I should be creating great works in record speed without her distractions. Her curvy, luscious, gorgeous distractions. No, I didn’t only miss her body, I missed everything about her. I missed talking to her, laughing with her. Fuck, I hadn’t laughed since she left.

Slouched over on my futon, I commenced running my hands through my hair.

“You think she’ll show up?” Eddie said. He was a perceptive son-of-a-bitch. I’d give him that. But even I gave up hoping that Vivienne would appear out of thin air. I was horrible to her. My words were brutal. No chick was going to come back for more of that. My point was made and she’d accepted it.

I wished she hadn’t. I hoped she would have stayed and fought for us at least a bit. But instead, she gave up right away and left.

“No, man. She’s gone. We had words after she followed me...”

“You mean after she stalked you? Fuck, bro, nobody needs that scary ass shit from a woman. My advice? Lock up your bunnies and keep working on your novel.”

That was the thing. My bunnies were just fine. There’d been no phone calls or texts, no surprise visits. Vivienne was done. “She didn’t exactly stalk me. I mean, she did, but it was kind of by accident.”

“You making excuses for her now?”

Damn right I was. I’d had time to cool off and mull over what she’d said. That first night, I was too livid to hear her accuse me of cheating, then that she followed me to that godforsaken place while I delivered booze and takeout to my mom. How fucking humiliating could you get?

It was bad enough that she saw where I lived now. I never wanted her to see where I came from. Not Vivienne. I’d spent most of my life hiding my reality from people. For good reason. Just imagining what Vivienne must’ve thought seeing my childhood home—where I lived for years—that was just too fuckin’ much. No way I could process that and the cheating accusations all at the same time.

Fuck that hurt, having her think I would even consider being with another woman when I was with her. Vivienne’s everything I ever wanted in a woman…more actually. I didn’t think a woman like her existed, and then when I was lucky enough to find her and she was clearly into me, I blew it.

Like she’d want to have a baby with some trailer trash loser who had to borrow money from her. I couldn’t even look after myself. How was I supposed to take care of a family?