“It is, yeah,” Samara said. “And I’m working on her.” She squeezed Dana’s thigh. “Dana here doesn’t seem tobelieve anyone when they tell her that she’s talented.”
“I believe people,” she argued.
“Really? Just a minute ago, I called you my best co-star, and you didn’t believe that.”
“You’ve worked with Meryl fucking Streep.”
“We had two scenes together, and she had three lines in those scenes.”
“Still,” Dana said.
“She wasn’t a co-star. She had a cameo,” Samara argued.
“Because she’s so talented and so sought-after, shedoescameos.”
“Mara, you didn’t want any beignets?” Willa asked then, changing the subject.
“No, I’m vegan,” Samara said. “But the coffee is good.” She picked up her cup with her free hand and took a drink, as if to demonstrate that fact. “And I just realized you said you were on a date night.” She looked at Dana. “We’re interrupting, aren’t we?”
“We were just going to talk wedding stuff,” Jill replied. “Things like time of the year or band versus DJ.”
“Oh, go DJ,” Samara suggested. “Much better.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ve been to, like, ten weddings this year. I swear, everyone I’ve ever worked with got married. Most of them went with a DJ. A few had bands, but people had more fun with a DJ. Bigger song selection.”
“So, you’d have a DJ for your wedding?” Willa asked.
“Definitely,” Samara replied. “But I know a few people who might disagree with that.”
“Why?” Dana asked.
Samara smiled at her and said, “I know a lot of people who would want to perform.”
“You know famous people,” Jill stated with a nod.
“Some,” Samara said, downplaying her connections.
“I like the DJ idea, babe,” Willa said.
“DJ it is, then,” Jill replied.
“Hey, can we get out of here?” Samara whispered in herear after she removed her hand from Dana’s thigh. “It’s getting really packed.”
Dana looked around. She had been too engaged in the conversation about Samara’s possible future wedding to notice that the place had gotten crowded.
“Hey, sorry. We’ve got to go,” she said to Jill and Willa. “Too many people.”
“Oh, sure,” Jill replied. “It was nice to meet you.”
“You too. Sorry to cut the night short, but congratulations on your engagement,” Samara said as she stood.
“Thank you,” Willa replied.
“Okay, bodyguard. Get me out of here,” Samara joked and reached for Dana’s hand this time, taking it and entwining their fingers.
Dana rolled her eyes and pulled her through the rows of metal tables and out the main entrance until they were on the sidewalk and could more easily get through the Square and back to her car. Surprisingly, Samara didn’t let go of her hand, so they walked connected like that until they stopped at a light, waiting for it to change. When Dana looked down at their joined hands, Samara must have noticed because she pulled her hand out of Dana’s, but then her arm just looped through Dana’s instead, and her other hand squeezed Dana’s forearm as she leaned into her.
