My house was mice free, but I was now the owner of a massive black stand mixer and I was wondering how I was going to get rid of it. Had I been a bit less competitive, I probably would have given it to Alyssa but after she stamped her dauber all over my arm after I shouted BINGO!, I decided I was going to keep my prize- even though I so did not need it. 

I spent all of Sunday painting an armoire and dresser and was stunned by how they came out. I used a cornflower blue on the armoire and decked out the drawers with a simple floral wallpaper and it looked like a different piece when I was done. I snapped photos of my masterpieces to my group chat and Finn but noticed my phone was weirdly quiet all day. I realized it just may have been my shit service when a bundle of texts caused my phone to start popping off Monday evening. 

I wandered outside with my phone held in the air until I found two bars near the garage door. The sun hadn't fully set yet and the sky was a pretty cotton candy pink and blue. I laid down in the overgrown grass and started scrolling through everything I had missed. 

My heart warmed when I saw three missed texts from Finn and I opened his first. 

Finn: Do NOT plug that thing in until the house is rewired. 

Finn: You haven't sent photos with your coordinates so I assume you made it home alright. 

Finn: Alright, you're being awfully quiet. You alive?

He so likes me. I grin as I read his last message again and quickly write,

Me: My service is SHIT! I need wifi before I need the house rewired. I know not to plug in the mixer (also don't have anything to bake) and I am alive. Just tired from being Joanna Gaines all weekend.

I then quickly scroll through all of Drew's updates from his date with the architect and type,

Me: You have to wait until I am back in L.A before you start planning your wedding. Sounds like he's the one. Also, my service here is shit. Please keep sending updates even if it takes me DAYS to respond. Love you and miss you. 

I finally scroll to Bellamy and see she wrote: 

Bellamy: Hey love, how was your Saturday night? Hope you're having fun out there. 

Ugh, Bellamy is the sweetest. She's so good at checking in and I am shit at it. It was so much easier when she lived ten minutes away and could pop in anytime for some girl-time. She'd come over to do pilates at my place three days a week and we'd do wine nights almost every Wednesday. She got along with Mark and she's one of the few girlfriends I have that doesn't drive him completely crazy. 

She was always the first to sign up for fundraisers, charity functions, organizing team gifts, always making sure her husband, Sam's agent was securing him the best deals, and reading his contracts and agreements. When Sam divorced her two years ago, she practically lived at our house for a month. He had fallen in love with another woman and when he got traded to Jacksonville, he decided to take the other woman with him. Bellamy was devasted and had no idea how not to be a football wife. She had such a knack for securing endorsements and merchandising deals, she used all of her knowledge and energy to have me become an influencer. She didn't know how to just sit still and after the football wives closed ranks and booted the both of us, we clung to each other like our lives depended on it. I ended up being okay with leaving the football world but she's still actively trying to get back in by dating Sam's old friends and teammates. Unfortunately, Bellamy now has a reputation as being a football groupie. 

I love her though and wouldn't have my millions of followers and endorsement deals if it weren't for her. 

Me: I had a nice weekend. How was yours? How did you spend it?

I am sure she's having some Alabama withdrawals. This is the longest we've been apart and I have no idea how she's spending her time. I am about to drop my phone next to me when it pings. First is Finn and then Bellamy. 

Finn: I thought I said no shiplap. 

Me: I painted. Still not ready to use a nail gun. What did you do this weekend? Besides worry about me. 

I then scroll back to Bellamy. 

Bellamy: I was at a Nike photoshoot with LeVon. Made me remember when Sam and Mark did that Under Armor ad. How awful Sam was at acting natural. 

I grin as I remember the twelve-hour shoot. Sam was so not meant to be an actor or model. He never knew how to do anything naturally or gracefully. 

I am about to write her back when my phone starts ringing. I am pleasantly surprised to see Finn calling. 

"Hey, I thought I told you how I felt about calling," I tease and I bite my lip to keep myself from grinning like an idiot. 

"I know, but it seems like my texts can be slow to reach you and I am about to head back into West Memphis with terrible service," he says and I missed his deep voice. 

"Just needed to hear my voice before you went off to work. Something to keep you going strong?" I joke and I hear him breathe out a laugh. 

"I'm actually headed back a day early. So, I wanted to see if you were free on Tuesday instead?" My heart flips and I am excited he's coming home early. 

"Let me check my schedule. I had tentatively planned on going to the ice cream shop with this guy I met at bingo and I think he said he was only free Tuesday," I joke and Finn stays silent. I grin and then add, "Joking Finn. Take a breath." 

"I mean, if you'd rather get ice cream...even though you said you don't do sweets," he baits. 

"Nope. I am free. I am all yours. What did you have in mind?" 

"I dunno...I have been working at this nice hotel all weekend. I thought maybe this is something you'd like to do. There is a nice hotel near Magnolia that does the whole pool cabana, drink service thing." The thought of me spending the day under a cabana with drinks flowing in and out of my hand sounds divine. But also, too familiar. 

"You're right, I would love that but..."

"But you already have plans with another guy to do a pool day?" He jokes. 

"No, it's just...I surprisingly had a lot of fun on Saturday. Not doing my normal. I think...well what if we did something I don't like to do, or something I don't know I like to do." 

"You want me to take you to do something you don't like to do?" Finn asks, wondering if he heard me right I am sure. 

"Yeah, or just something I haven't done before. Like, what do you like to do that maybe I haven't done before?" 

"I know we come from different worlds, but I think you have even drank beers, played golf and gone bowling." 

"I have actually done those things. I look damn good in a golf skirt," I tease and I hear him laugh. 

"Please don't make me choose an activity that has to coordinate with your outfit," he pleads. 

"No, no. I will coordinate with the activity. Just have a think and if something comes to mind before tomorrow night let me know. Otherwise, I am down with the pool day." 

"And you're open to anything?"

"Within reason," I answer. "I won't skydive or bungee jump. Or eat meat." 

"Okay, so those are my parameters. I bet I can think of something not involving any of those three things."

"Oh, also I don't do improv shows or frolfing." 

"Frolfing?"

"Yeah, you know disc golf."

"No, yeah I know, I'm just surprised at some of these. Where you draw the line." 

"Why? Do I look like a frolfer?" 

He laughs, "No. You just came up with that list quickly. Like you were worried I would take you to do any of that." 

"My ex-husband once took me to a beef-jerky festival. I feel like I should now be as specific as possible with my don't lists." 

"That's a thing?" 

"Apparently. Boston has everything."

"You lived in Boston?" He asks and I clamp my eyes shut. Shit. I didn't want to reveal too much yet. 

"Uh, yeah I did. For six years." 

"Oh wow, Boston to Los Angeles. Quite the change of scenery." 

"What about you? Did you live outside of Magnolia ever?" I ask, desperately wanting to get the subject off of me. 

"I did. I went to Denver for college."

"Obviously didn't stay there? Wanted to live somewhere weed was illegal?" 

"Yes, the clean air and mountain town life were too much for me. Having more than one grocery store was just too much to handle." I notice he didn't mention having to come back to Magnolia after his dad died like Alyssa told me. I see we are both still keeping things hidden. 

"Did you ever go to Crested Butte? They have an amazing jazz festival," I ask him, steering away from any talk about why he moved back. 

"You know, jazz wasn't quite my scene then. Nor were expensive mountain towns, hours away from the city." 

"Aw yes. Sorry, you said college. There were cheaper ski towns if I remember." 

"I'm guessing skiing is not on your don't list? I think you need outfits to ski."

I giggle, "I actually have never been skiing. I've just been to ski towns." Mark's arm was too valuable to chance breaking it during football season. Skiing was never an option. 

"Yeah, I think I am going to have to rack my brain to think of something you haven't done. Or something you might not totally hate." 

"Hey, I thought I was going to hate a church activity and I was the big winner. I even donated like, fifty bucks." 

"Okay well, I will do my best to expand your horizons," he says and I wonder what he'll plan. I have no idea what Finn Weston will come up with knowing all of Arkansas is the limit. 

"Just text me tomorrow when you know so I can you know...plan my outfit."

"Will do. Are you home? Not heading back into the town for any weekly activities?"

"I'm home and not going anywhere. My entire body hurts from painting and moving furniture," I answer. I then think of Finn being mum on what he did this weekend and ask, "And what about you? Are you in for the evening? Not, hitting the town for any last-minute townie hookups?" He lets out a laugh, one that sounds like what I just asked was insane. 

"Sadie...there was no hooking up of any kind this weekend."

"Alright well, if you say so."

"I do. I say so," he jokes and then adds, "Goodnight, Sades." Something about hearing him call me Sades makes me feel all gooey. 

"Night, Finn." He clicks off and I drop the phone into the grass. I am feeling all warm and fuzzy, excited for my date on Tuesday. So far, the house situation has been a pain in my ass but everything else in Arkansas hasn't been half bad. 

I swipe my phone out of the grass, scroll to the group chat and quickly type out. 

Me: I have a date on Tuesday with Carhartt. I am freaking out. Butterflies are swarming. 

I hold the phone to my chest, laying here next to the garage and feeling giddy in itchy grass. It feels like how summer used to feel when I was young. Endless possibilities, warm humid air, and texting my friends about crushes. 

My phone buzzes and it's Bellamy. 

Bellamy: So happy for you. So glad to see you moving on. Hope you aren't even thinking of Mark.

I grin when I realize I hadn't thought about Mark since Friday. That's definitely progress.