Without any further word, he grabbed his bag and left the café.
Chapter 11
“Well, I hate him again.”
Evan and Paige glanced at each other. They were the only ones at a table in the back of the cat area of the café, during the slow period just after lunch.
“Dr. Fitch?” Paige asked.
Lauren dropped into a chair. “He came by the café last night and we had a fight. I don’t know why I thought we could even be friends. Clearly the other morning was just a weird fluke because we were tired and stressed and relieved the cats were okay. So that’s over.”
Evan shook his head. “Nope.”
“No?”
“I don’t think it’s over. I think it’s just the beginning. I think you guys are so bent out of shape over each other that all that passion bubbles up as arguments. If you just fucked instead, you wouldn’t fight.”
“That’s garbage, Ev.”
“Is it? That morning you banged each other, did you fight?”
Lauren thought back on it. She guessed they hadn’t argued at all. “No.”
Evan crossed his arms. “I rest my case.”
“One cannot build a relationship on just fucking,” Lauren pointed out.
“I dunno. I spent several very promising months with that guy Brent.” Evan turned toward Paige and said in a loud whisper, “Dick like a porn star. We spent basically the entire first month of our relationship exploring what he could do with it.”
Paige giggled.
Lauren rolled her eyes. “Did you marry that guy? No.”
“Anyway, despite the fact that you are definitely going to fall in love and marry that guy and pay me ten bucks, you said you didn’t want a relationship anyway, so what’s the problem? Screw his brains out, then go back to hating each other if you like.”
“You don’t make any sense,” said Lauren.
“Well, you can be angry but getting laid or angry but not getting laid, and I know which of thoseI’dchoose.”
“He kind of has a point,” said Paige.
“Ugh, don’t encourage him.”
“Is he coming to the adoption night?” asked Evan. “I can talk to him if you want. Get the real scoop. Ask if he likes you.”
“I am an adult woman, thank you very much, not a seventh grader. And I already know he’s attracted to me. He just doesn’t like me very much. And speaking of the adoption event, that’s what we’re here to discuss, not my love life.”
“You brought it up,” Evan pointed out.
Lauren opened her notebook to a clean page and clicked her pen a couple of times. “Look, is there anything remaining on the to-do list?”
Paige looked at her own notes. “We’re basically covered. There’s a case of plastic cups in back for drinks. The bartender is all set to arrive a half hour before doors open. We should probably buy a few more bottles of wine just in case, but we can also just run down to the corner liquor store if we’re getting low.”
“Food?”
“Ah, you’re going to love me.” Paige grinned. “I called all of our regular food vendors and asked if they could donate anything. So we’ll have some pastries, and Pierre’s Bakeshop is bringing some savory things. So there will be mini-quiches and something else. All free of cost to the event.”
“You are a rock star.”
