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a great guy—successful, confident, secure in our relationship.” She turned her head toward Juanita. “It hurts that you and some of my other friends aren’t accepting him.”
    “You seriously don’t get it?” Juanita pursed her lips. “What kind of guy hooks up with a girl young enough to be his daugh—”
    “It’s not like that.” She slapped a hand down on her thigh. “God, that’s pathetic. You know me. Can’t you have faith in my decisions? I’d never settle down with someone whom I didn’t love with my whole heart. Hell, my track record should show you that. I never even get past the stage of dating, much less talk about committing myself to a relationship.”
    “Fine. I apologize. I’m cranky today.” Juanita leaned back and closed her eyes. “God, I can’t wait for Friday to arrive so I can find a new place to live.”
    “Why? I thought you just moved,” she asked.
    “I did, but I didn’t realize how hard it would be to sleep with a bar below my room.” Juanita clenched her hands in front of her. “All night. Boom. Boom. Boom.”
    Mick’s asking her to move into his house completely came back from this morning. She chewed the corner of her cheek.
    Debbie sat forward. “You know what? I have the perfect solution.” She grabbed her friend’s hand. “You can have my apartment.”
    “Girl, I’ve been in your apartment. We’d have to sleep on top of each other.” Juanita raised her eyebrows. “I don’t wiggle the sheets that way.”
    “No.” Debbie scooted around to sit in front of Juanita. “I’ve been staying with Mick. He wants me to get rid of the apartment and move in with him permanently, but this is better.” She tossed her hair behind her shoulder. “He has this idea that I need to get rid of the apartment anyway to show him I’m making a full commitment to him, but my parents didn’t raise a dummy. Our relationship is too new. I can’t throw away everything I’ve worked for until I know this is the real deal.”
    Juanita laid her hand on Debbie’s arm. “You sure? What if he dumps you for someone…older?”
    “Not funny.” She rolled her eyes.
    “Hm…” Juanita slowly nodded, seeming to think about the offer. “Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?”
    “Positive.” She leaned forward and held out her hand. “But if Mick asks, tell him I gave up the apartment, ‘kay? I’ll tell him the truth once I can think clearly and know that nothing will ever break us apart.”
    Juanita smiled and shook her hand. “Deal.”
    * * *
    Debbie managed to open the door despite the bag in her arms. “Mick!” She bent over and dumped her belongings on the other boxes at her feet. “Anyone home? A little help here, please!” She stumbled over a suitcase and yelped.
    “Deb?” Mick hurried to the foyer. “What are you doing, baby. Did you fall?”
    “You think?” She laughed and held out her hands. “Help me up.” Pulled to her feet, she turned and looked at the mess. “I never realized I had so much stuff.” She pivoted and flashed him a grin. “There’s even more in the car.”
    “How?” He shook his head. “Why?”
    She kicked the bag out of the doorway. “I took off from work a couple of hours early and closed up the apartment.”
    “Dammit. You should have called. I could have loaded all this for you.” He picked up the box. “You shouldn’t have to do this all by yourself. I would have helped you get everything moved over here this weekend.”
    “Well, it’s done.” She grabbed another bag. “I’m exhausted.”
    “Just leave everything right here. I’ll go get the rest of it and put it in the corner somewhere until you decide where to put it all.” He leaned over and gave her a kiss. “Mm. I missed you.” He pointed into the house. “Go take a shower, relax, and when you’re done, I’ll whip you up something to eat. You’ve probably worked up quite an appetite with all this moving.”
    “I’m not going to argue with