That Second Chance (Getting Lucky #1)(46)

“Oh my gosh, sounds like a dream. So he decided to move out here to be with you?”

“Not right away,” Ruth says, clearly relishing her chance to tell Rylee’s story. “There was some time apart and phone sex.”

“There was no phone sex,” Rylee cuts in.

“There was phone sex, babe,” Beck calls out from the sidewalk, making Rylee blush.

I peek over at Beck and can’t help but wonder what phone sex with him would be like. Totally inappropriate, but that’s where my mind wanders. I bet he’s very good at it. He has enough confidence to pull it off.

“Ignore him.” Rylee waves him off and turns her attention back to me. “So is there anyone special in your life?”

I immediately feel multiple pairs of eyes fixate on me.

How did I not realize I’d be put through the gauntlet today? I’m the new girl; they’re going to want to know everything about me. Hell, I would do the same thing if I were them. I just wish the first question wasn’t about my dating life, something that has been nonexistent for a while now.

“Anyone special in my life? Unfortunately, no.” I pull out another iris.

“So you didn’t leave anyone behind in Los Angeles? Can we expect a guy to come flying in any day now to tell you he made a big mistake and wants you back?”

Ruth places a hand on Rylee’s shoulder. “Please excuse my friend and her wild imagination. She loves overdone romantic gestures that are usually fabricated. She is a romance author, after all.”

I chuckle. “Don’t worry; she’s good. No, there’s no one. No unexpected claims for love on my end. If anyone comes flying out here to beg for me to come back, it’s going to embarrassingly be my mom.”

“Ugh, my mom would be the same way if I left Port Snow,” Ruth says. “Then again, I’m all she has left. But let’s not talk about that.” She leans forward a bit. “Is there anyone you have your eyes on? You know, we have a lot of eligible bachelors in this town. And believe me when I say Port Snow knows how to grow them handsome.”

“She’s right.” Rylee raises her eyebrows. “We have a lot of hot guys in this town. Starting with Tracker.”

“Oh, Griffin told me about him.” I wave my shovel at them. “Said he’s a real man whore.”

“Big time,” Rylee confirms while placing a new plant in a vacant hole. “Griffin was right, but Tracker’s also a good time; at least that’s what I’ve heard. I have no personal experience. And don’t forget Jake and Oliver.”

“General store Oliver?” I ask.

“Yup.” Ruth nods. “Such a shame that a man who can make ice cream that good is single; just doesn’t seem right with the world, does it?”

“It really doesn’t.”

“And there’s also Kent down at the deli, Brock at the Lighthouse, and the Knightly boys. All single,” Rylee says, motioning with her finger toward where the guys are picking weeds. I refuse to turn around and look at them. “But you have to watch out for the Knightlys, you know—oomph.” Ruth has not so nonchalantly elbowed Rylee, who stares down her friend with murderous eyes. “Hey, you clipped my side boob. That hurt.”

Skipping the apology, Ruth clears her throat and motions with her eyes, shifting them back and forth. The exchange is really odd and uncomfortable as they silently talk to each other.

Uh, what is going on here?

Since neither of them seems to bring the conversation back to the group, I take it upon myself. I awkwardly clear my throat. “Wow, that’s a lot of single men on the prowl. Any single teachers?”

“Uh, Carson, the history teacher, is single, right?” Rylee asks Ruth.

“I think so. Pretty sure he just broke up with his girlfriend from Pottsmouth. She didn’t like the commute to see him.”

“Isn’t it, like, twenty minutes?” I ask.

“Yeah, we never said she was a good person, just a person Carson dated. I think she was a nurse, right?” Rylee asks.

“I think so.” Ruth nods. “She worked weird hours, and it was one of the reasons why they didn’t work out so well.”

I take in their conversation, smiling to myself. There has to be something in the water here; even people who swear off gossip can’t help but pass around juicy information.

“Do you want us to fix you up with anyone?”

“What?” I ask, bringing my attention back to the conversation while replacing an old daylily with a fresh one.

“If you want to try dating, we could hook you up with someone. I know all the single guys in town,” Rylee says. “I even made an Excel spreadsheet all about them for my single friends . . . who are just Victoria and Ruth at this point.”

“You’re single?” I ask Ruth, a little surprised.

“Yup.”

“She’s lusting after someone but won’t tell me who,” Rylee says with an eye roll.

“Maybe because keeping a secret between the two of us is almost impossible.” Ruth gives her a stern look.

“Whatever. Just tell us if you want us to hook you up with someone. I’m a great matchmaker.”

“Don’t listen to her,” Ruth cuts in. “She has yet to make one lasting match.”