Magnetic by Robin Alexander Read Free Book Online Page B

you remember the time we spent a long weekend in Pensacola, and she brought that girl…what was her name?” Molly snapped her fingers as she thought. “Help me.”
    “Jane.”
    “No, that wasn’t it.”
    Jenny stretched her legs out with a sigh. “It’s generic. They’re all Janes , baby.”
    Molly rolled her eyes. “Fine, Jane. After the first day, Ronnie acted like she was annoyed that Jane was there. She didn’t hold her hand, barely looked at her. She behaves the same way when she spends more than a few days with any particular woman, but she’s not that way with Stacy.”
    Jenny took a sip of her wine. “Yeah, this is awkward and has to be torture for Layne.”
    “I don’t know how to act. I feel so rude because I’m nervous about drawing Stacy into our conversations. She must think we’re the rudest people on the planet because we’ve barely spoken to her.”
    “She doesn’t talk much, either. She’s probably in shock, too,” Jenny said with a smile. “I imagine she wanted to freak when she saw Layne, but she played it cool.”
    “Stacy stares at her a lot. Did you notice at lunch earlier how Stacy kept glancing Layne’s way? And in the van, she kept staring past us at Layne.”
    “I noticed,” Jenny nodded, “but, Mol , we can’t intervene. The three of them have to work this out in their own way. Don’t get any ideas about talking to Ronnie. Let’s just be supportive of Layne.”
    Molly tugged on one of Jenny’s toes. “What do you suppose she’s doing over there right now?”
    “Plotting her escape. She’s probably on her cell phone begging David to call her back to the office.”
    *******
    “Just checking in,” Layne said when David answered his extension.
    “Why?”
    “I wanted you to know I had cell service here in case you needed anything.”
    “That’s kind of you, but I don’t. I sent out an email to everyone this morning stating that you are not to be contacted for any reason. They are to consult with me if whatever arises can’t be handled. Where are you, by the way?”
    Layne sighed. “A ranch in Crawfordville, Florida. I’ve only been here a few hours, and I’m ready to pull my hair out. Do you know what poison ivy looks like?”
    “It makes a terrible rash, that’s all I know.”
    “No, the plant. If I find any, I’m going to launch myself into it headlong, so I’ll have an excuse to leave.”
    David laughed softly. “That can be handled with cream, I think. Perhaps you should consider a woodchipper .”
    “David, I’m miserable, let me come back.”
    “Why don’t you look at this from a different perspective? You have the opportunity to relax and have a good time, so do it. Ride a horse, take a stroll.”
    “If I were crazy enough to get on a horse, I’d ride it home, and if I stroll, it will be out to the main highway where I will hitchhike back to New Orleans. I’m that desperate!”
    “If you show up here on horseback, I’ll lock you out of the building and consider having you committed.”
    “This place is the same thing. I’m a few steps shy of cross-stitching my name on a pillowcase. The only difference is I can wear my own clothes and keep my shoelaces.”
    “Then get dressed and go outside. I have to go now. I’ll see you in a few weeks and not one day sooner.”
    Layne growled and tossed her phone onto the bed when the call ended.

Chapter 7

    “Isn’t this marvelous?” Molly looked up at the twinkling stars above. “Dinner under a night sky.”
    The evening was cool, and dinner was served outside. Servers moved between the tables, taking dinner and drink orders. When one approached their table, Layne was the first to order. “I’d like my own personal pitcher of margaritas. Don’t bring me a glass. Just a really long straw.”
    Jenny smiled up at the server. “That sounds great, but I’d like a glass. You might as well bring a couple of pitchers because it doesn’t sound like she’s going to share with any of