Page 33 of All Our Almosts

Nolan grabs the beers again and starts marching back before I can stop him. I stagger behind, trying to look casual but also kind of freaking out. I mean, there’s no way Owen actually likes me, right? But I don’t know what else that conversation could have been. I guess Nolan’s lip reading could have been wrong? Actually, that seems like the most plausible scenario.

The brothers don’t notice us approaching right away, and we catch the very end of their hushed conversation.

“You don’t know her,” Andy is saying.

“I don’t,” Owen replies, “but I know you.”

“Do you?”

A beat passes between them. Owen retracts the hand he had been resting on Andy’s shoulder. Both men seem to realize we’re there at the same time.

“Sorry,” Andy says, and it’s not clear if it’s meant to Owen or us. But when his eyes catch mine there’s a clear plea there, and I know I’ll do anything to fix this for him.

“Hey guys,” I smile big and hand over the full glasses like I didn’t notice a thing wrong. “Beers for everyone. Should we head over to Lia’s art? She said we should come over as soon as we’re all here.” I take the spare beer in Nolan’s hands for myself, then nod my head towards the back.

“Yeah,” Owen exhales, visibly weary. “Good idea.”

When we find Lia, she’s talking excitedly to a tall girl with dark brown skin, bright blue eye makeup, and long twists in her hair. Lia spots us and waves, then comes to grab me and Andy by the hand and pull us closer.

“Welcome to my lair,” she says with a beaming grin, depositing us near a wall where two knit sweaters are hanging. “I’m going to make you stand here and guard my post for a second so I can get a drink.”

“Wait, before you go.” I grab her shoulder. “Let me introduce you. This is Andy’s brother, Owen. Owen, this is our friend Amelia.”

When Owen sees her, something about him visibly shifts into gear. His scowl from the Andy conversation is replaced by a warm, cocky smile. Then he leans in and takes her hand, saying in almost comically honeyed tones, “Amelia, so nice to meet you. I understand you’re the woman of the hour.”

And there goes Nolan’s theory that he’s interested in me.

Not that I’m disappointed or something. I really don’t like Owen like that. It just, you know… it feels good to feel wanted sometimes.

Whatever.

“Well, I’m just one part of a pretty big show, but yes I’m excited to be here,” Lia replies, and honestly I’m proud of her for staying civil in the face of such overt flirting. She does this weird thing where she always needs to have the upper hand in romantic situations, and tends to snap when other people make the first move.

Don’t ask—I don’t get it either.

Owen doesn’t take the hint, shamelessly scanning her from head to toe and back again. “Gorgeous and talented, it must be my lucky day.”

Lia’s gaze mimics his, taking stock of Owen’s dark hair, blue eyes, strong build, and slightly-too-formal clothes. When she meets his eyes again, she responds with a simple, “Ew.”

Nolan nearly spits out his drink. Andy blushes crimson. Owen seems, at most, mildly discouraged, with a devilish grin still pulling at the corners of his lips.

And me? I have far, far exceeded the amount of awkwardness I can handle in a day. In sheer desperation, I pivot to face the woman next to Lia with a too-loud, “Hi! I don’t think we’ve met before. I’m Sophie.”

“Hey, I’m Rayna,” she says with a wave and a shy smile.

“Oh, you’re Rayna! Lia’s Rayna! I thought you looked familiar. So nice to finally meet you. Are you a hugger? Can I hug you?” When she nods, I pull her in tight.

Lia and Rayna have been seeing each other casually for a few weeks. Nothing serious yet it sounds like, but enough that I’ve heard the name and know Lia’s excited about how things are going.

“Lia told me you do makeup content and I admit I totally went and followed your account. I’ve watched kind of a lot of your videos, and I developed a secret dream that someday you’d help me figure out which eyeliner shape looks best on my face.”

“Oh my god, you follow me?” Rayna replies, a new brightness blooming in her expression. “Don’t worry, I got you. Everyone’s so focused on contouring right now, but eyeliner makes just as much of a difference for how people see your face shape.”

“Okay not to interrupt this love fest, because I’m so excited for you two to meet,” Lia says, wrapping an arm around Rayna’s waist, “but I really do want to grab a drink. Do you want to come with, babe?”

“Oh, sure. We’ll talk more later.”

I squeeze Rayna’s arm in agreement, then let them go off to the bar.