“Coffee.”
“I’ll take it. Where’s good in Atlanta?”
Cara arrived at the café first, happy to find a parking spot in the busy area. After ordering her coffee, she sat by the front window, keeping an eye out for Amara. With her nerves stretched thin, coffee probably wasn’t her best choice. She smoothed her hands across the tabletop. It’s just Amara. She’s your oldest friend, Cara reminded herself. Besides, Amara hadn’t actually done anything to her.
Except stay friends with those who had destroyed her.
She was restless. Was everyone in the crowded café staring at her? Cara forced herself to take a deep breath, the rich aroma of coffee beans filling her lungs. All around her, people were busy working on their laptops or staring at their phones.
No one was looking at her. No one cared.
Cara took a sip of her coffee.
The bells above the door jingled happily as it swung open. Amara spotted her and waved exuberantly. Dressed in a blue, madras crop-top and white pants, her friend stood out amongst the casual crowd. Oblivious to the spectacle she made, Amara rushed to where Cara was seated. She stood and allowed herself to be enveloped in a familiar cloud of lemon fragrance.
“I’ve missed you so much!” Amara lifted Cara’s coffee and took a tiny sip, followed by a ‘not bad’ expression. She flashed a smile, and the college-aged barista almost tripped over his feet to reach her side.
“Do you need something?”
“A coffee and something sweet, darling.” The boy blushed before scurrying away.
“This isn’t a table service place,” Cara observed dryly.
Amara unzipped the Gucci bag strapped to her waist and pulled out her credit card. “It is now.”
“I didn’t realize you were already in Atlanta.”
Amara evaded her gaze. “I was going to call you in a couple of days. I wanted to get the family obligation stuff over with first. The birthday party is tonight, but I had to put in an appearance for a fundraiser the Hedin family supports.”
The mention of Erik’s family irritated Cara. The young man bringing Amara’s items saved her from making a rude comment.
“I don’t want to talk about them.”
“You know I didn’t set you up, right?” Amara was earnest.
“I believe you.”
There was more Cara wanted to say, but she wasn’t ready to hear Amara’s excuses. She had some sympathy for her. Amara’s parents, like David Bloom, expected loyalty, and rarely did they consider if what they asked was something their offspring wanted to do.
Cara was sure the Nkosi family would have still forced Amara to be friendly with Erik, regardless of her feelings. Last night, Amara had vocally been on her side. That was something.
“So, the roommate? He’s even better looking in person.” Amara put her hand to her chest and pretended to swoon. “The way he looked when he swooped in to rescue you. So hot!”
“Wes didnotcome to my rescue. I handled Erik on my own.” Cara had held her ground with Erik before Wes had arrived. But she wouldn’t deny she’d turned to him for comfort after. A pang stabbed her chest.
And then today he’d completely and embarrassingly rejected her.
“Wes. I like it.” Amara licked icing off her lips suggestively, and Cara forced a smile.
“You are incorrigible. It’s not like that.” No matter how much Cara wished it were. “He thinks he’s in love with Melody, the woman I originally rented from.”
“Thinkshe is?”
Cara stirred in her seat. Forty-eight hours earlier, she would have told Amara about her doubts. After last night and Wes’s behavior earlier, she didn’t want to share that she was developing feelings for him.
“I misspoke. He’s in love with her. She will be back soon, and they are going to start their lives together.”
Amara looked doubtful. “The expression on his face last night was not a ‘this is my platonic roommate’ look. It was a ‘she’s mine, back off before I disembowel you look.’ Hard to believe he’d do that if he were in love with someone else.”
