Bun for Your Life by Karoline Barrett Read Free Book Online

kind of slow.”
    â€œI’m on my way home. I picked up some boxes. I found a place to move yesterday,” I told her.
    â€œReally? Where? I still can’t get over Brian asking you to move out. What a jerky thing to do.”
    â€œHe didn’t mean it to be. I was upset at first, but I’ve decided maybe it’s a good thing.”
    â€œIn the back of my mind, I always hoped you guys would get back together.” She blinked her big green eyes at me and smiled. “You were like Ross and Rachel, Sam and Diane, Jim and Pam.”
    â€œWho are Jim and Pam?”
    â€œHellll-o . . .
The Office
? Have you watched TV since the nineties?”
    â€œWell, it’s not going to happen for Brian and me.”
    She raised an eyebrow and grinned. “You never know. He hasn’t put a diamond on Lola’s left hand. So, when are you moving? You want me to help pack?”
    â€œSaturday.”
    â€œSaturday?” she croaked. “This Saturday?”
    I nodded. “Brian has someone interested in the apartment already. I met him. A really nice older gentleman. You don’t need to help, but thanks for the offer. The place I found is an apartment that’s part of an awesome Victorian. You’ll love it.”
    â€œI can’t wait to see it.” She frowned. “Are you going to be done moving by Saturday night?”
    â€œI certainly hope so. The movers are coming at eight in the morning. Why? What’s Saturday night?”
    â€œRemember that bachelor auction I told you about a few weeks ago?”
    I racked my brain. Not at all. “Sort of.”
    She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, clearly annoyed. “I’m sure your mother’s told you all about it, too.”
    â€œShe mentioned an auction to help raise money for the library expansion. I thought she said book auction. Honestly, I wasn’t paying that much attention.”
    Olivia rolled her eyes. “That’s the one. Only it’s bachelor, not book. Really, Moll, who’s going to go to a book auction? I signed us both up this morning on the way over here. You owe me fifty dollars.”
    We were interrupted by two customers, so we both waited on them.
    Once they left, I turned to Olivia. “Fifty dollars? For what? What did you sign me up to do?”
    â€œYou don’t have ‘to do’ anything. It’s fifty to get in the door of the auction to bid on the bachelors. Tickets are limited, so I wanted to make sure we got ours. I had a feeling you forgot, and truthfully, I kept forgetting about it, too.
    â€œEmily’s going. It’s being held in the Palace Theater.” She sighed. “Picture the stage full of law enforcement, firemen, doctors, lawyers, construction workers, computer guys, accountants with those dorky, yet sexy glasses. Whatever you’re into. It’s going to be awesome; like being in a chocolate shop with too many choices. I can’t wait.”
    Olivia’s enthusiasm was catching. At least it gave me something to think about other than Calista’s death. I smiled at her. “Okay, count me in. I’ll give you your money Saturday at the auction. Maybe I’ll meet someone decent.”
    â€œYeah, your last guy was a winner.”
    Now it was my turn to do an eye roll as I remembered my last date. The guy didn’t take his baseball cap off until the maître d’ asked him to (I wanted to give him a standing ovation), he regaled me with a story of his upcoming hemorrhoid surgery, then conveniently didn’t have his wallet with him. To top it off, he had the audacity to complain about the high tip I left our server. On
my
credit card, mind you.
    â€œI’m heading home to pack. If you think you’ll be okay, I won’t bother coming in later,” I told her.
    â€œI’ll be fine. Make sure your phone is on. If you can even find it. I’ll call you later about the auction.