[ ] Go skydiving
[ ] Wear a bikini in public
[ ] Start living
Two best friends jump-start their lives in a summer that will change them forever…
Single mom Ellen Fox couldn’t be more content—until she overhears her son saying he can’t go to his dream college because she needs him too much. If she wants him to live his best life, she has to convince him she’s living hers.
So Unity Leandre, her best friend since forever, creates a list of challenges to push Ellen out of her comfort zone. Unity will complete the list, too, but not because she needs to change. What’s wrong with a thirtysomething widow still sleeping in her late husband’s childhood bed?
The Friendship List begins as a way to make others believe they’re just fine. But somewhere between “wear three-inch heels” and “have sex with a gorgeous guy,” Ellen and Unity discover that life is meant to be lived with joy and abandon, in a story filled with humor, heartache and regrettable tattoos.
Coach Keith Kinne and his
daughter had moved to Willowbrook five years ago. He’d joined the faculty of
Birchly High as the football coach and athletic director. Washington State
might not have the religious fever of Texas when it came to high school
football, but there was still a lot of enthusiasm and the six-foot-two-inch,
good-looking, dark-haired former NFL player had caught a lot of ladies’
attention.
Not hers, though. Mostly
because she didn’t date—there wasn’t time and no one she met was ever that
interesting. So when she’d found him cornered by a slightly aggressive novice
teacher from the English department, Ellen had stepped in to save him and their
friendship had been born. They hung out together because it was easy and they
complemented each other. He’d helped her when she’d bought a new-to-her car a
couple of years ago and she went Christmas shopping with him for his daughter.
“Why are you smiling?”
he asked, picking up his beer.
“Just thinking that it’s
nice we’re friends. Imagine how awkward things would have been if I’d gone
after you when you first moved here.”
He frowned. “Don’t say
that. If you had, we might not be friends now. I was fresh off a divorce and I
wasn’t looking for trouble.”
“I’m not trouble.”
“You would have been if
we’d dated.”
What on earth did he
mean? “Trouble how?”
“You know. Boy-girl
trouble.” He put down his beer. “Speaking of dating, Lissa got on me about my
internet relationships.”
“You don’t have internet
relationships. You find women to have sex with.”
He winced. “That’s what
she said. Have you two been talking about me behind my back?”
“Oh, please. We have so
many more interesting things to talk about.” She’d never understood the appeal
of casual sex. It seemed so impersonal. Shouldn’t that level of intimacy be
part of a relationship? Otherwise sex was just as romantic as passing gas.
“She told me to find
someone I wasn’t embarrassed by so she could meet her.”
“That’s nice.”
“It freaked me out.”
Ellen grinned. “That’s
because there are emotions attached to relationships and you don’t like
emotions.”
“I like some of them. I
like winning.”
“Winning isn’t an
emotion.”
“Fine. I like how
winning makes me feel.” His expression turned smug. “I get emotions.”
“You’re faking it.” She
let her smile fade. “Cooper wants to go to UCLA.”
“Are you sure? He told
me Stanford.”
She heard a ringing in
her ears as her whole world tilted. “W-what? Stanford? No. He can’t.”
“Why not? They have a
better wrestling program. I’ve spoken to the coach there and he’s really
interested. I’m working on getting Coop a one-on-one meeting when we visit the
school. With his skills and grades, he’s got a good shot at getting in.”
“I’m going to faint.”
“Why? You should be
happy.”
She glared at him.
“Happy? Are you insane? I can’t afford UCLA and it’s a state school. How on
earth would I pay for Stanford? Plus, why isn’t Cooper telling me about things
like meeting a coach? I should know that.”
“Breathe,” Keith told
her. “If he goes to Stanford, you’ll be fine. With what you make, his tuition
will be covered. If he gets a partial scholarship, it could go toward room and
board. Stanford would be a lot cheaper for you than UCLA.”
Her panic faded. “Are
you sure?”
He looked at her. “You
have to ask me that?”
“Sorry. Of course you’re
sure. You do this all the time.” She picked up her chicken. “Yay, Stanford. Go
team.”
“You don’t have any
contact with his dad, do you? Because his income would count.”
“No contact,” she said
cheerfully. “Jeremy disappeared before Coop was born. I hear from him every
five or six years for five seconds and then he’s gone again. He signed his
rights away and he’s never given me a penny.” She smiled. “I say that without
bitterness because I’m loving the Stanford dream.”
Keith grinned. “You’re
saying you can be bought for the price of tuition?”
She smiled back at him.
“I can be bought for a whole lot less than that. So why didn’t he tell me about
wanting to go to Stanford? Why is he keeping secrets?”
“He’s becoming a man. He
needs his own dreams and plans.”
“But I’m his mom and
he’s my baby boy. Make him stop growing up.”
“Sorry. Not my
superpower.”
She remembered what it had
been like when Coop had been younger. It had been the two of them against the
world. “I miss being the most important person in his life, but you’re right.
He needs to make his own way. What are the Stanford colors? Will they look good
on me?”
Cannot wait to read this.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to what sounds like another great read from Susan Mallery.
ReplyDeleteCarol Luciano
This does sound like a terrific story. You have done another post which means I have added another book...to my eternally long tbr list.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
I hope everyone is taking care and staying safe.
Just finished reading her novella and ready to read this book!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comments and the excerpt. This sounds like it would be a good summer read.
ReplyDeletelooking forward to this book.
ReplyDelete