Read Apples & Oranges (The This & That Series) for Free Online

Something to take my mind off my twisted perspective on marriage and relationships. Something to take my mind off the overjoyed lovebirds that were my adoptive family. And seducing the hot guy who rejected me was just the ticket. An ego boost would make me feel better. Normal.
    “You’re contemplating actually dating the Tasmanian devil tattoo guy?” Lexie’s eyes widened. “Like, for more than a week?”
              Candace elbowed her. “Be nice.”
    “Okay, a month?” she corrected.
    “Whatever.” I wrinkled my nose at my friends. “Having babies is gross. And I’m not dating the mechanic because I’ve got some sort of domestic fever. I’m dating the mechanic because he’s hot. And nobody rejects me. Nobody.”
    They exchanged a glance.
    “There’s the Marisol we know and love,” Candace said wryly.
    Lexie sighed. “I had such high hopes. I would have made a poppy seed cake with buttercream frosting for the reception.”
    My stomach growled. She did know my favorites. I pushed myself back from the table. “Oh, give it up. Both of you.”
    Pressing the feelings of loneliness and inadequacy that had been following me around like smog for the past few weeks—okay, the past few months —deep in the back recesses of my mind, I gestured at the playpen. “Lex, take your baby home and get your freak on with the good doctor.”
    “Wait, I still need to get this fresh pea mixture into the pastry shells.” She looked longingly at the playpen. “Fletcher’s been on call, so we haven’t seen each other in days. I miss him.”
    Jealousy tugged at my heart, but I covered it up with an exaggerated eye roll. “Ugh. Please. I can finish this. Just go. And you.” I pointed to Candace. “You don’t even work here. Enough with the helping us out for free. Go home and mug on your hubby, and I’ll cut you a check for your time tomorrow.”
    “Are you sure?” she asked.
    I nodded. “Of course. Now get out of here, would you? Your happy marriage and family talk is giving me a stomachache. Besides, as soon as you leave, I’m opening up a bottle of that merlot we have for tomorrow’s event.”
    Lexie narrowed her eyes at me. “Ha ha. Real funny.” It was common knowledge that she’d gotten pregnant after indulging in a bottle of merlot all alone. “How will you get home?”
    Candace dropped her car keys onto the table. “Take my car. Lexie can drop me off, then I’ll pick it back up in the morning.”
    “Thanks,” I said with a wave. “You guys are the best.”
    “We know,” Lexie said as they made their way towards the door.
    I watched as they packed up their things and left into the setting sun, back to their homes full of noise and chaos. When I finally meandered my way home, I would be met by a bitchy male Siamese cate and leftover Thai takeout in the fridge. No noise. No mess. Just the quiet stillness of a single woman’s home filled with furniture that matched and coordinated more than it actually provided comfort. Nobody would be there to welcome me. Nobody would care whether I showed up or not, except Cocinero, who would eventually get tired of licking his own balls and want some tuna.
    Grabbing a rubber spatula, I sat down at the table and started tu rning the pea mixture again. Grunting at myself for being so pathetic, I caught a glimpse of myself in a nearby stainless steel bowl. My hair was frizzed into a halo around my face, and most of my makeup had gathered underneath my lower lashes in some sort of Emo look I was entirely too old for. I looked like hell.
    “You’d better get yourself together,” I said to my reflection. “Especially if you’re going to seduce Demo-the-mechanic tomorrow.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
                  Sure enough, my cat was itching for some serious food when I got home. Sadly, when I’d gotten him as a kitten ten months earlier, I’d started the habit of holding Cocinero on my lap while he ate. Now it was