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“Hi, uh—” I begin, then narrow my eyes, unable to recall her name.
She waves my indiscretion away. “Anastasia—but everyone calls me Tasia.”
Relief washes over me and I smile. “Hi, Tasia. Sorry, there were a lot of names thrown at me last night.”
“I can imagine.” She grins. “So, back again, huh? You’re becoming one of our regulars.”
While her words say one thing, her pointed stare is telling me something very different. I shift from one foot to the other.
“Yeah, I was, uh—looking for Quinn. But it appears he has the day off.”
She eyes me suspiciously for a moment but nods.
“Any chance you might be able to give me his address? I know he lives on East First, but not sure which number. I should have driven him home last night, then I wouldn’t have to track him down like this,” I say, feeling self-conscious enough to babble.
“What did you need to talk to Quinn about?” she asks, sidestepping my question like a pro.
My eyebrows tug in and my mouth opens, but no sound comes out.
She takes a step closer, her teal shirt flapping in the breeze as she crosses her arms over her torso. “Is this about Lily?”
I blink hard, not sure what to say. On one hand, she’s also friends with Lily, but on another—she’s one intimidating woman. I’m not sure which one of those elements to lean into.
“Yes,” I blurt, opting for the truth. The last thing I need is for her to hunt me down, or turn Lily against me.
“Good,” she says, seemingly pleased. “I was hoping it would be. Quinn’s in 703.”
I exhale a big breath, contemplating what she meant by her first statement. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
We stand there, squaring off on the sidewalk for a beat.
“Well, I should—” I say, pointing toward my vehicle.
She nods but doesn’t make a move to leave. I take that as my cue, so I turn to head toward the Escalade again.
“You know …” She begins before I reach it. When I spin back around to face her, she drops her hands and sighs. “Quinn isn’t Lily’s only friend. If there’s something you need—maybe I could help?”
This was a turn of events I didn’t see coming. And I’m not entirely sure how to navigate it. Would it be better to ask for her help? Or continue with my quest to find Quinn.
Tasia must sense my hesitation because she takes a step closer. “Look, from her current best friend to her former, I think we could help each other. But if you don’t want my help.” She raises her hands and starts to turn around.
Current best friend?
My heart takes a leap into my throat and I look up and down the street. Before I consciously think about it, I’m nodding.
“So, what’s on your mind?” she asks.
I release a pent-up sigh. “Did Lily tell you she was considering an event planning gig working with me?”
Tasia shrugs. “Of course.”
I nod, feeling the need to pace. “I’m worried I might have scared her off.”
She narrows her eyes. “Why would you think that?”
I screw up my face, trying to search for the line between the truth I can tell her and the things best left unsaid. “The event Nocté needs to plan is going to be challenging—and she wants to take time to think about it—which I totally get.”
I look up into her intense brown eyes as she watches me.
