Anyone not in the know would have seen the cutesy reaction as a move of some sort. With a livelihood that involved as much flirting as theirs, getting desensitized to it was an occupational hazard.
ForHarper, at least. Instead of treating it like a game, Nell put on a persona when she was working, one that was the polar opposite of how she was in real life. While the differences between Harper and Aurora were distinct but minor, the differences between Nell and Venus were like night and day.
Venuscould charm someone out of a full paycheck using only her voice. But wheneverNellwas around someone she liked, she got nervous, and whenever she got nervous, she started playing with her hair.
Casey obviously noticed. Her smile widened, and she tugged at one of Nell’s curls.
And then… Harper’s stomach clenched.
“Took you long enough.” Evie grinned as Nell returned to their table. “So? How did it go?”
Nell fiddled with her drink straw. “How did what go?”
“Oh, comeon,” Harper said. “You’ve been eyeing the door since we got here, and then all but jumped when she walked in. Tell us how it went!”
Nell widened her eyes, putting on a confused expression that was only believable to people who hadn’t spent years living with her. When Evie and Harper cocked their heads at the exact same time, decidedly unimpressed, Nell sighed.
“It was okay. We… talked.”
Evie’s grin widened. “And what did youtalkabout? It must have been salacious with how much she made you blush.”
“She did not! Casey was just being nice.” Nell started playing with her hair again. “And… she wanted to know how I was settling in. If I had explored the city yet. And then she asked me out.”
Evie burst into excited questioning, which didn’t make it any easier for Nell to avoid the blushing allegations.
Harper’s heart sank seeing the pink color in her face. Evie being so excited was actually lucky, because it meant Nell was too busy deflecting questions to notice that Harper wasn’t saying anything.
And why, exactly? Casey hadn’t done anything other than be charming, which wasn’t a negative. Especially not since Nell actively sought it out.
It was just a bit of leftover worry. Not unexpected, after all the mess with her last boyfriend. But this was a new place, with new people. A much-needed fresh start. Evie had broken the trend of awful partners, so why shouldn’t Nell be able to do the same?
Why shouldn’t Harper?
“You okay?” Evie nudged Harper’s arm. “You’re being quiet.”
Evie had always been too perceptive for her own good. Which was actually a mark against whatever hesitance Harper was feeling. Evie hadn’t spotted any cause for concern, so it probably wasn’t there at all.
Harper shrugged. “I’m fine. I just thought you weren’t dating right now. That’s all.”
“That was only because I kept making bad decisions.” Nell’s gaze fell, and she smiled. “Casey doesn’t feel like a bad decision. She’s sweet. And funny, and… She’s just different.” Nell gave Evie a playful shove. “And ashe, too. Which I bet you’ll be gloating about.”
“I will do no such thing.” Evie flicked her hair over her shoulder. “I’ll be relieved. Since you’ve finally developed a sense of taste.”
Nell snorted, almost choking on her drink. In their lineup of failed relationships, most of them had involved men; something Evie teased them about relentlessly. But never in a mean way.
The three of them being queer was part of why they had bonded so quickly. Not everyone got how it felt to be othered because of your identity. To feel alone because of who you were and who you fell in love with.
When you found people who knew what that was like, they were hard to replace. And they got to make prodding comments without consequences.
Despite that, Harper couldn’t offer any reaction beyond a weak smile. An ugly feeling had coiled in her stomach, tightening and tightening.
She shouldn’t feel envious. Evie being more excited about Nell’s possible relationship than Harper’s real one wasn’t cruel, or even conscious. She couldn’t help where her thoughts took her.
But having Evie shoot nervous glances at her neck every time they saw each other still stung.
“Do you want to come over tonight?” Nell asked Evie. “Patricia finally got ahold of a lawyer who’s worth a damn, so we’re looking after Lucas until tomorrow. Just so he doesn’t overhear anything he shouldn’t.”
Evie smiled. “Can’t handle him on your own?”
