Finally I arrived at Emerald’s. As I rushed up to the restaurant, I could see Kels sitting at a table by the window, looking perturbed at my tardiness. I went over to the table and threw my tote down on an empty chair. “Sorry. The traffic was a bitch,” I said as I pulled out the chair across from her.
“You should’ve left a little sooner. I’ve been waiting here for a while.” She handed me a shopping bag. “I brought you a blouse.”
“Thanks,” I muttered before going to the ladies’ room to change.
Emerald’s was a new restaurant in Union Square, and the retro chic décor gave it a casual and homey feel. Bright yellow walls supported gray tables and blue and white cushions perfectly. I sank down on one of the cushions and smiled at the waiter when he came over to take our order. The menu boasted comfort food with a healthy twist, so I ordered one of my all-time favorites—mac and cheese. A glass of merlot rounded out my order. Kels had a kale and spinach salad and a glass of chardonnay.
“Jason is the best. I really think something could come of this,” Kelsey said as she placed her fork down.
“Jason? Who’s that?”
“The guy I met last night.”
“I thought his name was Chandler. Are we talking about the same guy?”
Kelsey pressed her lips together and nodded. “I meant Chandler. Anyway, he’s awesome.”
“Who’s Jason?” I asked before I placed another mouthful of mac and cheese in my mouth.
“I don’t know. I misspoke. It’s not a big deal.” A frown creased her forehead.
I didn’t push it, but “Jason” and “Chandler” were not even close. “Chandler” and “Charlie,” okay, I got that, but “Jason”? Maybe she had a crush on another guy too and was just seeing who’d come through with the engagement ring. Kelsey was always looking for Mr. Right, and the more money he had, the better suited he’d be for her. She also rushed into things, proclaiming her love and Cinderella happy-ever-after ending after the second date. That was one of the main reasons she was always getting her heart broken. It was like she was too trusting in love, and I wasn’t trusting enough. There had to be a middle ground, but it seemed to elude us time and time again.
After gushing about her newfound love throughout our entrées and our plant-based chocolate cake, Kelsey said, “Wait. Didn’t your new boss take over today?”
I didn’t think we’d get there. “Yeah. Guess who it is.”
She shook her head. “I don’t even know who to guess.”
“Trace Prescott.”
With wide eyes, she brought her hand to the base of her throat. “You’re joking. No. You’re not. Trace is your boss? How didn’t you know that before today?”
“I’m sure the higher-ups knew, but the news wasn’t shared with us until today. And how didn’t you know Thomas Linder was his grandfather? You went out with him for over a month. Didn’t it ever come up in conversation?”
Her lips twitched. “We didn’t talk all that much. But wow, I can’t believe he’s your boss. That’s crazy.”
“I know. I’m sorta freaked about it, especially since I reamed on him last night.”
“What do you mean?” I filled Kelsey in and she glared at me. “I didn’t ask you to do that. What possessed you to?”
I thought we’d have a good laugh over it, so I was taken back by her anger. “You’d been crying up a storm for the last week. He really hurt you. I didn’t plan it. It just sorta happened.”
“I can’t believe you said that he was cheating on me. I feel like an idiot now.”
“You’re the one who said he was. You’ve been going on about how badly he treated you and what a cad he is.”
“I said Isuspectedhe was cheating on me. I wish you would’ve minded your own business.” Kelsey pushed her bottom lip out a bit and stared out the window.
We sat in silence, licks of anger emanating from her. I really didn’t understand why she was so mad about what I did. Something wasn’t adding up.
“Will there be anything else?” the waiter asked. When we shook our heads, he placed the bill on the table.
Kelsey picked it up, took out her phone, and calculated our shares. After we paid the bill, she stood up. “I have to get going.”
I grabbed my tote and rose to my feet. “Me too. I’ll get the shirt back to you. I’m sorry about the Trace thing. I didn’t think you’d be upset by it. I thought we’d get a good laugh over it.”
“Well you thought wrong. Don’t say anything more to him about me. That’s all over now. I have Jason… I mean Chandler.”
As I followed her out, a suspicion niggled in the back of my mind that Kelsey was holding back. We’d been friends long enough for me to know when she was hiding something. I didn’t know what it was, and I hoped she’d tell me when she felt comfortable. But her making me feel like a total asshole for going to bat for her pissed me off. I quickly hailed a cab before I told her what I thought, not wanting to end the day with a big fight.
I directed the driver to stop at a corner store while I ran in and got a pint of double chocolate ice cream with brownie bites. After the day I had and the way I was feeling, the plant-based chocolate cake hadn’t cut it at all.
I slid back in the cab and watched the streetlights turn on as we made our way to my apartment. I couldn’t wait to don my comfy pajamas, stretch out on the sofa, and watch a sappy movie while I devoured the ice cream.
