Rebound by Nikki Mathis Thompson Read Free Book Online

sorry I’m late!” Katrine hollered. 
    Various greetings zinged back her way, they were all very excited to see her, that much was apparent. Yes, just what she needed. She felt better already. These ladies were her core group of friends. They were all unique in their own way, but they had one thing in common, they all loved each other. They were the kind of friends that would help you move, the kind that always remembered your birthday, and the kind that let you ugly cry on their shoulder, the snot running down the face, snorting kind. Those type of people you keep around.
    She had met them during various stages of her life, but these were friendships that had endured into her progressing adulthood. She weeded out the less desirables by her thirties. Katrine grabbed her seat and ordered that much needed drink. 
    Directly across from Katrine sat Paige. She was the youngest of the group at age thirty and was a stay at home mom. Her blonde hair fell to her shoulders. She was more conservative in her speech than some of the other ladies present. (Conservative meant she didn’t curse as much as the others). 
    Charlie sat to the right of Paige. She was the eldest of the group, having turned 40 this past year. She was thin and on the tall side, with a reddish brown, inverted bob. There was nothing conservative about her, speech or otherwise.
    Next to Charlie was Jane. She owned her own business and lived in the city with her husband. Jane was short and curvy, with long black hair and striking blue eyes.
    Then on the other side of Katrine sat Isabelle, went by Izzie. She had a slim build, ample boobs, wavy blonde hair and light brown eyes. She had a no nonsense type of personality, very successful. As the only single person, she was who they all vicariously had sex through. But Katrine guesses she would join those ranks too, now divorced. If she ever had sex again...
    “Katrine, you look great!” Jane chirped. 
    Good friends mean it when they give a compliment. Not like the people who work in retail compliments. The ones that tell every customer how cute their kid is, or that plaid palazzo pants look slimming. 
    “You do. How much weight have you lost?” asked Paige.
    “About 200 pounds of asshole, would be my guess,” Charlie said.
    That made Katrine and every one else laugh.
    “Thank you, and yes I have lost that and ten more.”
    “Like you needed to loose any, what are you like a size zero now?” Izzie teased grabbing a tortilla chip.
    “No, Iz. Zero is not a size anyway. They added that to make runway models and women with eating disorders feel like part of the gang. I’m a two, perfect for my shrimpy stature.”
    “5’3 isn’t that shrimpy. And besides, the shorter you are, the more men you have to choose from. Anyone who isn’t a jockey or a dwarf is fair game. And by the way I used to wear a size zero thank you very much, and I am neither anorexic, nor a super model.” Paige added, scrunching her lightly-freckled nose.
    “Anyway, good to see you out and about, we missed you! And more importantly, mazel on your new job!” Jane cheered. 
    Everyone else lifted their glasses to salute Katrine.
    “Thank you, thank you. It is good to be out and after the day I had, I really needed it!” 
    “We want to hear all about the new job.” Jane insisted. 
    All eyes turned to Katrine and she tried to decide where to start. When in doubt the beginning is always best.
    “Well, you all know my friend Joanna, who’s a member of my women’s charity group? Well, her husband knows some people in high places and got me a job working for a company called AG Industries.”
    “Katrine, that is one of the biggest conglomerates in the US!” Izzie said. She seemed impressed.
     “Yes, that’s true, so it’s a pretty big deal that I was even considered. I’m the assistant to Alexander Abbot Jr. and it is short term and pays very well.” Katrine took a sip of her drink and then continued. “It’s going to be a