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I follow them inside the pub-style restaurant I picked, because I need a giant cheeseburger to drown out the mix of guilt, irritation, and confusion that’s been roiling in my gut all day.
“So, did you do anything special today to celebrate?” Sophie lets Emma and Lauren slide past her to the hostess stand. “Or I guess this weekend?”
I shake my head. “No, not really. Just had a lazy day yesterday. Talked to my family this morning. They always call to say happy birthday.”
“That’s nice! Are you close to your family?”
“Probably too close, according to some people.” I can’t help my sarcastic tone. Sophie raises an eyebrow, and I realize my blunder. “I mean, yeah. It was always tradition when we were kids to wake each other up by singing happy birthday. Now we just do it over the phone.”
The hostess leads us away to a table at the back, Emma and Lauren walking arm in arm, Sophie and I following. “That’s lovely. I’m assuming you and Julian did something earlier? Or are you celebrating tonight?”
I stop short. “Me and Julian? How did you…?”
Sophie’s laugh is light and feminine as she slides into the booth next to Emma, leaving me the seat beside Lauren. Sophie points a finger at each of them. “These two keep me up to date on all the hot gossip. Even Theo mentioned it the other day.”
“Pfft, you didn’t think you were going to get away without giving us all the juicy details, did you?” Lauren elbows me with a wink. “We love you, but you’re the worst at hanging out. I knew the only way we’d get it from you was if we fed you.”
With a groan, I lean back against the booth. I don’t know if I can keep up the facade in the face of these three. Maybe I should just tell them the truth? But, no. I can’t. If I tell Sophie, she’ll tell Mr. Sutton. And the less I’m being discussed at work, the better.
I’ll just be vague.
“He did offer to take me out for breakfast this morning, but we ended up just having coffee.” My cheeks heat when I remember exactly what Julian ate for breakfast today, but technically I haven’t told a lie.
“Coffee? That’s it? That’s the lamest birthday breakfast.” Emma rolls her eyes before picking up her menu.
Sophie studies me and my cheeks flame even more under her scrutiny. “Just coffee, huh? Knowing you, it was good coffee. Where did you go?”
I squirm in my seat, praying that Lauren doesn’t notice. “We had hazelnut lattes.” All those years of Sunday School, of my parents drilling it into us to be honest, swirl in my stomach. I pick up the menu and pretend to study it so I don’t have to keep talking.
“I heard Black Rock makes a really great hazelnut latte. Is that where you went?” Sophie knows that coffee shop is nowhere near my apartment.
Fuck. She knows something is up.
Just as I’m about to crumble and tell them everything, the server pops up beside our table. “Hi, ladies, what can I get you to drink? Water? Soda? Iced tea?”
“I think we’re going to need something stronger for our friend here.” Lauren laughs and points at me. “I’ll have an old-fashioned.” She nudges me. “The birthday girl here will have a—”
“An iced tea, thanks.” I blurt out my order before Lauren can. “It’s only one in the afternoon, Lauren.”
“It’s Sunday, Frankie. And your birthday. Live a little.” She leans closer to the server. “Can you get them to spike that with a little rum?”
The server laughs but shakes her head. “Unfortunately, I can’t. Believe me, I’ve tried. And what about you, hun?”
Emma and Sophie both order diet Cokes. Before I’m ready, the server is gone and I’m being stared down by three intimidating pairs of eyes. With a sigh, I wave a hand at Emma. “Close your ears.”
“Do I have to?”
“You realize this kid hangs out with me and Sophie on the regular? And reads a lot of our books. I doubt you’ll shock her.”
“Meghan Quinn is my favorite,” Emma adds with a grin. “Those Brentwood Boys are delicious.”
Having never read a romance in my life, the name means nothing to me. If I’m going to read a book it better have a dragon on the cover.
“Unless…” Sophie leans her elbows on the table, hiding her face behind her hand and mouthing, “Is it kinky?”
I choke on my own spit once I figure out what she’s saying. Lauren is doubled over laughing at Sophie’s question and my reaction. Emma needles her mom to get her to tell her what she asked, while I cough and gasp before finally catching my breath.
“Fuck, Sophie. No.”
