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We spent the entire morning playing scary coffee shop where she insisted on taking my coffee order, but sometime before I finished describing my drink, Eloise turned into a monster. The good news is I got my cardio running from first a zombie, then a werewolf, then a dinosaur. The bad news is that I didn’t actually get coffee out of the deal.
I bite off the last piece of the popsicle and throw the stick in the garbage. Lennon’s supposed to get back from Minneapolis and meet me at B’s before the art show, and I could not be more nervous. Ever since Finn told me about the opportunity to test out going on tour, I haven’t been able to wrap my head around it.
I’m excited.
I know how it feels to get to try out something you’ve been dreaming about. It’s how I feel regarding the art show this evening, but I still need to talk it out. Lennon will be annoyed. There’s no question about it, but I’m a verbal processor, so it has to be done.
I briefly consider calling Cass up instead.
When I pull out my phone, I notice two texts from Finn.
Finn:What are you wearing?
Finn:That was really off brand for me. I’m just practicing for when I leave tomorrow.
I snort, leaning my elbows on the kitchen island and typing out my response.
Me:I just assumed you were asking about what to wear for the art show. In that case, a black dress.
The bubbles pop up as he types his response, and I briefly glance over at Eloise. She officially fell asleep. It’s not a good nap, but it’s something.
Finn:And after the show?
I fight the urge to smile as the room gets warmer–just slightly.
Me:Probably my retainer.
Finn:You’re not making this easy.
Me:It’s more fun when you work for it.
Finn:So, you’re saying that you want me to–
I don’t finish reading the text message when I hear the front door open. While I am an adult woman in an adult relationship with an adult man, something about being in B and Brian’s house makes me feel weird. It’s like I’m fifteen all over again.
When I turn to call out down the hallway, I stop, hearing hushed whispers traveling into the kitchen from where they just entered.
B’s tone is harsh. “I don’t know what the fuck he thinks he’s doing cornering us like that.”
Brian’s deep voice cuts in, low as if he’s fighting to keep the conversation private. I decide I’ll feel guilty about eavesdropping later. “B, calm down.”
“Calm down?” She practically hisses the words, and my heartbeat picks up in my chest. “He can’t just show up after all this time–after everything.”
Heels click down the hallway, and I turn to greet them when they walk in. Despite the slight frown on Brian’s face, there’s no sign of the conversation they were just having.
My brow furrows. “Everything okay?”
B blinks. It’s like her brain misfires, and she struggles to compute the question.
“Yeah,” Brian answers, but there’s something in his eyes that tells me that might not be the entire truth.
B shakes her head, gathering herself before her features shift into something more annoyed than anything. She places her bag on the counter, digging around to find her lipstick and reapplying it.
“Just some asshole at the restaurant,” she supplies. “No big deal.”
If I didn’t know better, I’d believe her. B is a damn good liar. But the woman raised me, and I can usually tell when that’s not the case.
Still. I let them have their privacy.
