Just Rules by Anna Casanovas, Carlie Johnson Page B

Jeremy hadn’t gotten any better, and that to be closer to them he had rented an apartment in the same neighborhood where his wife and son lived (it still took Mac a long time to process those words). What Tim didn’t tell Mac was that he had talked to Susan and that he knew about the box of chocolates.
    Tim had the feeling that it would be better left unsaid.
    In order to try to forget about Mac’s visit, Susan concentrated on her work, refusing to let anyone or anything distract her. She ignored any news or comments about her postponed wedding.
    The only distraction she allowed herself was to call Lisa on Wednesday, just like she had promised, to explain to her that she had already canceled the florist. However, one morning, she dared to answer a call from Tim’s mother. She and Tim’s mother had never had a close relationship, but Mrs. Delany was a very polite woman and only wanted to let her know that they didn’t agree with their son’s decision and that Susan could count on them for whatever she needed. Susan thanked her for the call and for her offer, and said goodbye promising that one day she’d stop by for a tea.
    She turned down Parker’s invitation for dinner. He smiled at her and although he accepted being rejected, he warned her that he would try again. He called her the next day, and sent he sent her flowers. But Susan turned him down again. Parker kept calling, and he sent her tickets to see a ballet show.
    Parker wasn’t going to give up easily and Susan knew that she wasn’t going to be able to resist forever. Parker Jones was charming and attractive. He was exactly the kind of man she had always imagined herself with. However, after what happened with Tim, Susan had promised herself that she wouldn’t settle for a rebound, or for someone who would just make her feel better, no matter how amazing that person was. Nope. The next time she gave anyone a chance he would have to take her breath away and stop her heart.
    And she wasn’t thinking about Kev MacMurray when she came to that conclusion.
    As far as everything else was concerned, she spent the rest of the week without thinking about Tim, the wedding, or Mac’s horrible comment. At least she tried as hard as she could anyway, and if there was anything she had, it was willpower.
    However, on Friday, all of her good intentions went out the window when the only person who seemed not willing to let her get away with such behavior returned from Miami. Pam was her best friend and also the camerawoman at her T.V. program, and they had not seen each other since the day Pam helped Susan pick out the dress she was wearing the night Tim dumped her.
    “I leave for a few days and you let things get out of hand, Sue.” That was the first thing Pam said when she walked into her apartment with two bottles of tequila. “My friends and I have come to make you confess.” She lifted up the bottles and paper bag filled with limes.
    “I didn’t let anything get out of hand, Pam. Come in. What did you do to your hair this time?” Susan asked her, seeing that she had purple highlights. Anyone who saw them together wouldn’t imagine that they would be friends. Pam and Susan were complete opposites, at least on the outside. Pamela dyed her hair each week, and she had a ton of piercings, except for on her face. She also had a thing for tattoos, not to mention how daring her wardrobe was. Yes, Pamela and Susan were like night and day, but you couldn’t find two people who were better friends.
    “They’re dyed hair extensions, washed with lavender and natural oils,” she explained, walking toward the kitchen completely at ease. “You can’t imagine how handsome was the guy who put them in. He was such a hottie. Is it alright if I grab these glasses?”
    “Of course. And you decided to get these extensions just because the guy was hot?”
    “Of course not. I wanted to get them, and he convinced me,” she added, with a mischievous grin.
    “You slept with