Vegas to Varanasi (Fortytude Series Book 1) by Shelly Hickman Read Free Book Online Page A

out of our budget.
    “I like how they’ve made the carpeting look like a rug in the center of the wood flooring here, but then again, it kinda limits furniture arrangement,” I say.
    “You got a point,” Julia says as she wanders through an archway. “Oh my God, Anna! Get in here!” I follow her to the kitchen to find her drooling over a Tuscan stove recessed within a stone worked arch. “Do you not love this?”
    “It’s... It’s beautiful!” I place my hand over my heart before taking out my cell phone to snap a picture. “Not that I could afford it, and my kitchen can’t accommodate one, but you could totally get one installed in yours.”
    “Are you kidding? Derek would have a cow if I suggested spending money on something like this. Especially after all we just spent on the wedding.” She lightly runs her fingers over the stove, followed by the stonework. “Oh my, but you are lovely, aren’t you?”
    “Shall I leave you two alone?”
    “No, but I do want to hear about your time alone with David last night.” She grins and wiggles her eyebrows.
    No one else is in the house with us, which is why we’re conversing as if we’re in our own home.
    “All I can say is, after nearly a month of no boinking, it was quite... explosive.”
    We continue down the hallway to admire the bedrooms. “He makes you a gourmet dinner—”
    “ Attempted gourmet dinner. God love ’em.”
    “... Followed by explosive boinking. Sounds like a night to remem—”
    We round a corner and stand face to face with a young couple and their little boy.
    Julia’s mouth drops open. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry,” she whispers. I step backward out of view and stand against the wall with my eyes closed, trying to keep from laughing.
    “It’s, uh, it’s okay,” I hear the man say.
    “Daddy, what’s explosive boinking?” the boy asks.
    “Never mind!”
    The family passes me in the hallway and the woman gives me a Thanks a lot! glare.
    “Sorry.” I keep my eyes lowered.
    Julia waits until we hear the front door close. “Oh my hell.”
    “Gah! Way to use your inside voice.”
    “What?” We enter a master closet the size of my bedroom. “I wasn’t the only one who thought we were alone. These houses are so cavernous, there’s no evidence anyone’s in here until you’re right up on them.”
    “Clearly.”
    We gaze in awe at the number of racks, built-ins, and shelves made of cherry wood. “Can you even imagine having enough clothes to fill a closet like this?” Julia asks.
    My latest Kohl’s excursion comes to mind. “No.”
    “And you’re a Skinny Minnie. Picture what it’s like for someone like me to find clothes.” Julia is a plus size gal, but like Geena, knows how to purchase clothing that most flatters her. Some people just have a knack. Or maybe it’s because I know what a lovely person she is, so all I see when I look at Julia is an open heart and rosy complexion.
    “It would be nice to have a closet like this,” I say. “But you know what comes to mind when I see all this dark wood?”
    She raises her eyebrows.
    “Dust. Dust collecting on all these shelves. Unless a housekeeper comes with them, forget it.”
    “I hear ya, sister.”
    Julia and I return to the bedroom, and she disappears down the hallway before quickly coming back.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Checking to make sure the coast is clear.” She sits on the edge of the bed and pats the spot next to her.
    I look uncertainly around the room before sitting down. “You’re weirding me out. You don’t have some fantasy involving girl on girl action in a model home, do you?”
    “Eww, no!” She wrinkles her nose. “It’s just... you know I think David’s a great guy and all, and I want things to work out.” She takes my hand. “But you need to take this alcohol thing seriously, okay?”
    “I will... I do.”
    “I mean it.”
    “So do I.” I squeeze her hand to let her know I appreciate her concern. I thought I would be