Laugh Like You've Never Cried (Summer Lake 5) Read Online Free PDF

Missy was just being kind. “I'd like that, if you don't mind.”
    “I'd like it too, hon. I'll see you in a little while. Bye.”
    “Bye.”
    Megan stared at Ollie. “Don't look at me like that! It's your fault I have to go out. I need some help with what I should wear. I haven't done this in a long time. A very long time.”
    Ollie just grinned at her. Traitorous dog!
    ***
    O llie went crazy when he heard Missy coming up the path. He flung himself at the front door, barking.
    “Hang on a minute,” shouted Megan. She grabbed his collar. “It's okay Ollie, it's Missy. She's a friend.” At least Megan was hoping she might become one. She led him into the kitchen and closed the door. “It's okay. You wait there.”
    She hurried to open the front door. “Sorry about that, he's not used to people coming around. Come on in, I've put him in the kitchen.”
    Missy eyed the kitchen door warily as she followed her into the living room.
    “He's a good dog.” She didn't want Missy to be scared. “He's just very serious about taking care of me.”
    “It sounds like it,” said Missy as Ollie continued to bark and jump at the kitchen door.
    “Do you want to meet him?”
    Missy wrinkled her nose. “Maybe. If he's not going to eat me.”
    Megan smiled. “He won't, I promise. He'll be fine once he knows you.”
    She opened the kitchen door and took hold of his collar. He barked at Missy while Megan clung on to him. “Stop it, Ollie-bug, be nice now. This is Missy.”
    Missy held out a hand and let him sniff her. Once he'd done that he gave two short sharp barks and then started to wag around her legs.
    Missy laughed. “I guess that means I meet with your approval?” She reached down to stroke him and he rolled on his back, offering up his belly for tickling. Missy knelt down and rubbed, laughing some more as his back leg peddled in the air.
    “Oh, he'll love you forever if you give him belly rubs.”
    “Typical male,” said Missy. “Gets himself all worked up over nothing and then forgets all about it as soon as you touch him.”
    Megan nodded. She didn't know what to say.
    Missy smiled at her. “I'm sorry you couldn't make it for breakfast. Maybe soon? We're not that bad when you get to know us.”
    “Oh, it's not you. It's me. I don't do well in groups. Especially when I don't know anyone.”
    Missy wrinkled her nose. “We'll have to change that then. You already know Ben, nothing scary about him. Dan's easy, and hopefully I'm not too bad, though I can be a bit bossy.”
    Megan smiled. “I don't believe that.”
    “Actually, I save that for the guys. They're the ones that need it. Especially when they're being dumb. And last night, Michael was being really dumb. He's a good guy, but sometimes he doesn't know when to tone his joking down.”
    Megan nodded. “I noticed.”
    “Look, hon. I hope you don't mind, but he told me that the two of you are going out tonight.”
    Megan nodded again. She didn't know if this would make it harder or easier to ask Missy her question. She decided to wait and see.
    “It occurred to me that you've been hiding out here and haven't been out on a date in a while.”
    How could she know that? And was it really a date?
    Missy shrugged. “It's a small town, hon. If you'd been out at all I would have seen you around, and if you'd been dating I would have heard about it. I just figured that it's been a while, and you might want a girlfriend to talk to.”
    Megan stared at her. Was there a catch? She'd never had a girlfriend she could talk to about dating or about guys. Not that she'd done much dating, and was that really what this was—a date?
    “Feel free to tell me to butt out. I don't want to interfere, just wanted you to know you've got a friend if you need one.”
    Megan relaxed. “Thank you, Missy. Thank you, so much. I do need one. I'd love it to be you, if you really don't mind.”
    Missy grinned. “I wouldn't be here if I did, now would I? Be warned though, you may