Vice’s attention shifted past me.
Something about the way she said his name made me turn around.
The woman walking toward our table was beautiful, and there was no point pretending otherwise. She was tall, dressed in a fitted cream-colored dress that looked expensive without trying too hard, and carried herself with the kind of confidence that came from knowing people noticed when she entered a room.
Her eyes went straight to Vice.
“Look at you,” she said, smiling as she reached our table. “I was starting to think you left Atlanta.”
Vice leaned back in his chair. “What’s up, Simone?”
So, this is Simone...
I didn’t know why my mind said it like I was supposed to know who the hell Simone was and who she was to him.
She leaned down and wrapped one arm around his shoulders, pressing a kiss against his cheek before straightening back up. The entire thing lasted maybe two seconds, but I noticed every single one of them.
Which was ridiculous.
Vice and I weren’t on a date… according to him.
Simone rested a hand lightly on the back of his chair. “You disappeared on me.”
“I ain’t disappear.”
“You stopped answering.”
“Sound like the same thing to me.”
She laughed. “See? Still an asshole.”
“Never said I changed.”
There was an ease between them that only came from history. Not somebody he’d met a few times. Not a woman who had randomly gotten his number and couldn’t take a hint.
They knew each other… Like, really knew each other.
I reached for my lemonade and took a sip, suddenly finding the glass far more interesting than it had been thirty seconds ago.
Simone finally looked at me.
Her smile didn’t disappear, and I appreciated that. The last thing I needed was some woman giving me an attitude over a man I wasn’t even involved with.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’m?—”
“Milan,” Vice said. My eyes shifted to him and so did hers.
An unreadable expression passed across her face so quickly that I almost missed it before her smile returned.
“Milan,” she repeated. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
“Simone,” she said, extending her hand.
I shook it. “Nice to meet you, Simone.”
Her attention returned to Vice. “You look good.”
