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She would be here because she had escaped and he would never find her.
“I will start jotting down ideas tonight.”
“No, you will not.” Juliet pressed her lips together in a stern expression, but her eyes were lit up with joy. “You’ll be having too much fun celebrating. You can’t miss the fireworks.”
She didn’t like big crowds. Never had. Never would.
“I’m going to have a quiet night at home.”
“You’re coming out with me. That’s final.”
She didn’t want to argue with Juliet, but she also didn’t want to go out tonight. Not even Griffin had asked her to hang out tonight. Not that she expected him to ask her. They were only friends. Sure, they had dinner together once a week at one of their houses, but that was it. It was all platonic. Because they were only friends. If he had asked her, she would’ve told him no as well.
“Fireworks are not my thing.”
Juliet frowned until Chip walked by her, bumping her hip.
“Not everyone likes crowds. You know it gets insane around here. She doesn’t want to go, she doesn’t want to go.”
Juliet’s frown increased as she watched Chip walk to the counter and grab a loaf of bread, tossing it into a bag and tying it shut. The food they didn’t sell or use today would be dropped off at the homeless shelter. Eve enjoyed helping Juliet drop it off every night. Of course, some nights Chip did it, and other nights Tabitha did it. Eve hadn’t yet done it on her own, but one of these days she would. If only they’d let her. She’d offered once, and Juliet told her no. No explanation, just no. Eve didn’t have the guts to ask why.
“But we’ll miss you there. Tabitha and I always go together, and we get the best spot. Griffin and Bryce have one right next to us. Of course, Denise will be there with him, and I think Griffin will have Melody there with him.” Juliet rolled her eyes as if she didn’t like the idea.
Eve had to agree. Since when was Griffin seeing someone? He never said a word. Not that he had to tell her everything, but he was usually very open and honest with her. Telling her things she had yet to have the bravery to talk about.
That sealed the deal for her as well. She didn’t want to be around Griffin if he had a date. That would be hard to witness.
But they were only friends.
It would eventually happen. Him dating. She’d have to get used to it.
Juliet walked closer to her, pleading with her eyes. “Please, come with. Melody is not my favorite person and I need backup. Someone to help keep me in line so I don’t claw her eyes out or something.”
Eve snorted. “And you think I’m good backup? Have you lost your mind?”
“Some days, but today it’s intact.” Juliet smiled, garnering a chuckle out of her. “Griffin thinks you’re coming. You have to be there.”
But why would he need her there? He had his own date.
“Like Chip said, I’m not fond of crowds. I get…” Oh, what was a good word for that? “Um…claustrophobic, you know.”
Juliet sighed. “You’re sure I can’t talk you into it?”
“I will be waiting with bated breath to hear all about it tomorrow morning. I’ll even open the cafe up at six am for you. You can sleep in.”
“Ha!” Juliet laughed. “I forgot how to sleep in, but I will let you open up. Those croissants you make melt in your mouth. I need some of those tomorrow. Your butt is making them.”
“Deal.”
And thank goodness that was the end of that.
“What doyou mean Eve isn’t coming tonight?” Griffin had to have heard Juliet wrong. Eve had to come. He wouldn’t be able to endure Melody’s obnoxious laugh all night without Eve’s beautiful laughter counteracting it.
“She’s not a fan of crowds, I guess. I thought you were going to ask her to come with. When she didn’t mention it, I had to do it.”
Well, he thought about it, and after a long hard night of thinking too much about it, he decided not to. They were friends. Things were easygoing between them. No awkwardness like that first night he invited her over. He didn’t want to lose that. He enjoyed spending time with Eve. Getting to know her wasn’t easy, navigating through questions as if he were walking in a minefield. If he asked the wrong one, the progress he made with her could come crumbling down in seconds. Asking her to the Fourth of July event could’ve been construed as a date, and he hadn’t wanted to mess with the status quo. He had assumed she’d go with Juliet and he would’ve seen her there anyway. So much for assuming things.
“I assumed she’d come with you.”
