AllFreeNovel
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I turn to the tables. “Should we go find a seat?”
“Oh, yes, I’m starving…” She holds her stomach. “We can save spots for them.”
We find a table set for five and take our seats. Maureen doesn’t close her mouth for even a second. “So, let me tell you what an absolute struggle it was to get this dress.”
I’ve positioned myself in a chair that faces the door, and even though it’s hard to keep my eyes solely on Maureen, I try my best to listen.
“First of all, they were originally out of the green…and I told the associate, ‘no, that will just not do.’” She sighs. “Because this is a Christmas party, I wasn’t going to wear the pink one to a Christmas party. How ridiculous.”
She pauses, waiting for a reaction, so I nod quickly. “Oh yes, pink…of course not for a Christmas party.”
“Right?” She shakes her head. “So, I called like three of their other locations, asking around, and none of them had green. None. Can you believe it? I even looked online, and nothing. So then I’m on the phone with their corporate office, and…”
I don’t hear the rest of her sentence, because finally, Sophie comes through the door with Nick. She’s shrugging off her coat and handing it to him. But I barely see him. She wears a floor-length wine-red velvet dress with cropped sleeves that sit just off her shoulders. The fabric is smooth and hugs her curves all the way down to her toes. Her long lashes blink slowly, and her hair is pulled up in soft waves at her neck.
I swallow silently.
She straightens her dress and brushes a few flakes of snow from her hair as she makes her way toward the tables with Nick at her side.
Maureen waves her hand in their direction. “Sophie! We saved you both a seat.”
She meets my eyes briefly before sitting down across the table.
Nick pulls out her chair. “It’s gonna blizzard tonight, for sure. Already starting to accumulate out there.”
Maureen shivers. “Oh dear, I think I’m just about done with the snow.”
“You’ll be back in California soon, Maureen.” Nick winks at her as he takes his first swig of champagne.
“Yes, I need some sun.” She closes her eyes and turns her face toward the ceiling like she’s soaking up imaginary rays.
Nick takes another drink. “Do they have anything other than this weak champagne?”
Sophie points across the room. “I think there’s an open bar over there.”
“Ah, now that’s what I’m talking about.” He downs the rest and leaves the table.
Maureen turns to me again like she’s going to continue her green dress story, but I quickly look toward Sophie and clear my throat. “Sophie, has Leah kept in touch with Drew?”
She rolls her eyes. “What do you think?” She regards me inquisitively. “Have you kept in touch with Drew?”
I smirk as I take another sip of champagne. “Absolutely not.”
“Who’s Drew?” Maureen interjects.
“Drew Conroy,” Sophie answers, running her finger around the base of her glass.
“Oh my God, you guys know Drew Conroy?” Maureen sits forward.
“Hardly,” Sophie scoffs.
“What’s he like?”
“Duller than you’d think.” I grin at Sophie.
She smirks and shakes her head.
“Is that when the two of you met?” Maureen asks. “When you met Drew?”
