The Opposite of Wild by Kylie Gilmore Page A

in the background. “I think you guys are really going to enjoy this one. Very uplifting and funny too.”
    She’d forgotten Rachel stayed open late on Mondays to host The Thinking Mom’s book club. She wiped her sweaty palms on the back of her Snoopy T-shirt. She could hear Rachel talking to someone in the background.
    “Okay, Janelle’s taking over the register,” Rachel said into the phone.
    “I can call back.”
    “It’s okay. We were just wrapping up, and they’re buying the book for next month. Janelle’s got this. Okay, I’m in my office. Talk.”
    Liz flashed back to that intense heat, the overwhelming pull she’d felt toward Ryan that made her forget everything—who she was, where she was, what she was doing. Luckily, she’d come to her senses. She’d known the boy he was, but she barely knew the man he was now. Could she ever look at him and forget The Humiliation?
    Her body screamed, Yes!
    Stupid hormones.
    “Are you there?” Rachel prompted. “What happened?”
    “I was just so sad about Daisy leaving, and he came over with soup and a DVD—”
    “What movie?”
    “ Bringing Up Baby .”
    “He’s good. Did you tell him that was your favorite?”
    “No, but Maggie and I talked about it.”
    “Go on.”
    “Then he hugged me, and the next thing I knew, we were kissing, and it was just too much. I kicked him out.”
    Rachel gasped. “How was it too much?”
    “I don’t know. Just too… intense .”
    “Intense,” Rachel echoed. “So let me get this straight. The guy you worshipped for an entire summer finally kissed you, it was freaking intense , and you kicked him out? Liz, forget about The Humiliation, and just go for it!”
    “It’s not that easy.”
    “It is,” Rachel said firmly. “We’re sexy singles, remember? Invite him to your birthday party.”
    “I don’t know…”
    “I’ll do it. You’re welcome.”
    “Rachel, no! It would be so awkward, and he probably wouldn’t even want to come. My mom said he’s been a bit of a hermit since he quit the police department.”
    Rachel murmured noncommittally. “He was shot, you know.”
    “Do you know what happened?”
    “No one does. Just that he was shot and then left the force. You should ask him.”
    Liz rolled her eyes, thankful Rachel couldn’t see her. “I’m sure after he hasn’t told anyone all this time, he’d just love to confide in me.”
    “Dial back the snark. I’m trying to help you here.”
    Liz sighed. “Sorry, it’s just so hard. Ryan is so…so—”
    “Hot? Sexy? Lickable?”
    Liz flushed red, opened her mouth and then shut it.
    “Wear the Wonderbra tomorrow, and shave your legs,” Rachel instructed.
    “Rachel!”
    “Calling F-U-N now, bye!”
    Liz stared at her phone. Rachel was so going to pay for this.
     

Chapter Ten
    The next morning, Liz drove to Maggie’s house for their planned change-of-scenery drive. Maggie was already in the passenger seat of her convertible when Liz pulled up. She wore a red kerchief and large, round sunglasses.
    “Happy birthday!” Maggie exclaimed. “Ready for a change of scenery?”
    “Sure am,” Liz replied, getting into the driver’s seat. “Where to?”
    “We’re heading for Laurel Mountain. I printed the directions off the computer.” She waved a paper in the air.
    Liz took the paper and studied the route. Laurel Mountain was two hours north of them up in the Catskills. She pulled out of the driveway and headed out of town. If she’d known it was that far, she would’ve packed a cooler for lunch. She preferred to prepare her own lunch so she knew exactly how many calories she had to account for, but, hey, it was her birthday so calories didn’t count.
    “I got you a present,” Maggie said.
    “You did?” Liz glanced over.
    Maggie was smiling.
    “Oh, you didn’t have to do that.”
    “I wanted to. I’ll give it to you when we get there.”
    “Okay.” Liz noticed Maggie didn’t have her usual oversized faux-leather purse, only a