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Lily breaks from the group of women and walks toward us. “London, what are you doing here?” Her voice is breathy and I have to force myself not to glance at her chest when I notice she’s breathing heavily.
“Oh, he came in to talk to me,” Quinn says, cutting me off. “Had to rave about the sexy stir sticks. Right, London?”
I blink hard, but find myself nodding in agreement. “Yeah.”
Despite the fact I still haven’t pranked Myles with them yet, I’m hoping Quinn has a reason for the misdirect.
Lily’s face flushes and she glances down. “Oh.”
I step forward, not wanting to disappoint her. “I was hoping I’d run into you, too, though.”
Quinn shoots me a look of annoyance and mouths,Freak out!
“Sorry to be the first to bail on what’s clearly about to be an awkward situation, but I have an episode of theLast of Usthat’s calling my name. I’ve been dying inside all week and must have the unresolved questions answered,” the Korean woman says, jabbing her thumb over her shoulder. She doesn’t wait for recognition from the other women before she saunters away with her face glued to her phone.
“Lily, I think you should introduce us,” the tall black woman standing on the other side of Lily declares. Dressed in an off-white designer blouse, paired with navy dress slacks and heels too high for most women, she has an air of importance about her.
For all I know, she could be a senator or something.
Lily presses her fingertips to her forehead. “Oh, sorry. Of course. Everyone, as you know, this is London.” Her dark eyes search mine for a beat. There’s a curiosity and fire in those brown orbs that I wish I could read. She clears her throat and twists around. “London, this is Carlie, Vivian, Tasia—and the one about to run into a light pole is Anna.”
She points to the redhead first, then the blond, the senator woman, and the Korean who’s no longer in sight.
I raise a hand, feeling entirely too self-conscious as I wave. “Hi.”
“So, London … Lily tells us you used to be best friends,” the blond—Vivian, if I remember right—declares.
I nod. “Yeah, it was a long time ago.”
“It was nice to meet you, London. But I need to head back, too.” The redhead says. She smiles in my direction, then turns around and gives Lily a hug. It looks like she whispers something in her ear, but I don’t catch a word of it.
“Bye, Carlie. Call me later, okay?” Lily says when they separate, her cheeks slightly more pink.
“You bet,” she says with a wink. “Bye, everyone.”
“Bye, sweets,” Quinn calls after her, crooking his index finger and wiggling it in goodbye.
“So, Quinn, are you locking up? Looks like a slow night,” the senator woman asks.
“Yeah, I think so, Tash. It’s been dead since seven,” he says with a shrug. “I guess everyone’s all kinked out for the night.”
“Guess so.” She smiles. “Come on, Viv. Why don’t you help me out inside?”
The blond turns back to Tasia as if she just asked her to light her hair on fire.
Tasia’s eyes widen and she tips her head toward Dirty Deeds.
“But I wanted to learn more about—” Vivian protests.
Lily springs to action, taking Vivian by her shoulders and pointing her toward the door. “No, I think Tasia’s right. She needs your help.”
“But I—” she complains.
Before she can continue, Tasia is sweeping Vivian into the building next door.
“Nice to meet you, London,” Tasia calls back before the door closes.
Quinn rolls his eyes, then turns to Lily and says, “Hey, Lily, I’m starved. You up for a little Fitger’s?”
