Long-time loner and party girl Marty Pendleton has finally fallen in love. The problem: Marty lives in Seattle, and her new girlfriend Taylor lives in Boston. Her best friend Elaine and her brother Sean are worried that, as usual, Marty will blow it.
Taylor is everything Marty could want in a woman: sexy, confident, and successful. But how will Taylor handle Marty’s penchant for over-reacting and drinking a bit too much?
When Marty makes assumptions, she risks losing everything. Can she convince Taylor she’ll change for the better and make this work, even long-distance?
Almost three weeks passed before I saw her again. We met for dinner at our favorite steak house.
“Elaine,” Marty started. “I’m more in love than ever. I didn’t think this could get any better, but here it is!”
“So when’s the move going to take place?” I asked, fearing the answer.
“Well ...” Marty began, “I’m not even sure there’s going to be one.”
“Because you haven’t mentioned it?” I suggested.
“Neither of us has,” she said with a deep sigh.
“Do you want it to happen?”
“I hate being so far away from her.”
“Maybe you should both move to middle ground. Like St. Louis?”
“That is a thought, but we both like living near an ocean. Did I tell you we went deep sea fishing?”
I shook my head. “Catch anything?”
“No. But we had a lot of fun. Taylor says next time we’ll go to Provincetown. I guess that’s a gay Mecca on the tip of Cape Cod.”
“I’ve heard about it.” I nodded. “So you’ll always go there.”
“So far. I’m trying to persuade her to come to Seattle so we can go whale-watching.”
Just then, Sean and his latest, Ryan, walked in. When Sean spied us, they came right over to our table.
After the introductions, I asked Sean and Ryan to join us.
“Well, sis,” Sean started. “How’s it going? How was Boston?”
Marty’s face lit up. “I’m in love,” she told him.
“Again? Did this one last more than three days?” Sean knew Marty too well. He waited for her to explain.
“This one’s lasted over three months,” she informed him.
“And you expect me to believe that?”
Marty bobbed her head. “Yup.”
Sean looked over at Ryan. “My sister never falls in love, and her relationships aren’t known for their lengthiness.” Then he looked at me. “Is she telling the truth?”
“It seems so, Sean.”
“You told me last month she had a new trick. Is this the same one?”
I nodded.
“This one is not a trick,” Marty told him.
“You’re not serious.”
Marty just nodded.
“Did you have her hypnotized or put something in her food?” he asked me.
“Nope.” I smiled. “I haven’t met this one yet.”
“Then this could still be a drunken hallucination.
“She hasn’t been drinking,” I said.
Sean looked at me, then Marty, then Ryan, then back at Marty. “And none of the bars have called to find out if you’re still alive?”
“Go to hell, Sean,” was Marty’s response.
