“Honey, we talk every single day about the dumbest shit. If something is going on and you need to talk, I’m always there, you know that. The only thing that would ever impede me being there for you is Claire. Not Levi.”
“I know, but I’ve just been so happy for you. I’ve loved seeing you happy and being treated the way you deserve, and I just haven’t wanted to get in the way of that.”
I shake my head, reaching for her hand and giving it a squeeze. “Blue, I love you. You’ve been there for me for as long as I can remember. Don’t tell Levi this, but you will always come first for me.”
“Really?” Her eyes sparkle despite the doubtful expression.
“Really.” I lift my hand and reach for my drink, taking another sip before giving her my full, undivided attention again. “So, spill. What’s been going on between you and RJ?”
She looks slightly embarrassed but tries to cover it up by rubbing a hand down her face. Looking over my shoulder, I follow her gaze to see Levi and RJ heading toward the bar, their eyes on Cole. My eyes widen slightly as I watch him throw back not one, not two, but three shots in succession.
“He never drinks,” I mutter, turning my attention back to Blue. Her eyes are on Cole now, a concerned look mixed with… longing?
Catching me staring, she blushes before speaking. “I guess there’s talk of him going overseas to play ball, and he wants me to go with him.”
“Oh.” I wring my hands in front of me on the table.
“I told him I’m not sure that I can.” Blue runs a hand through her curly hair. “And then he said, ‘But I want my wife there with me’.”
I straighten up so fast that my hand knocks into my glass, spilling its remaining contents onto the table. “He said what?”
“I know.” She sighs, resting her elbows on the table. “Then he got down on one knee in my kitchen.”
“And what did you say?”
Blue looks down at her empty left hand. “I said I needed to think about it. And when he asked why, I told him I didn’t want to sell the flower shop or leave my life and friends behind.”
“I take it he didn’t like that answer very much.”
She shakes her head. “He didn’t believe me. He asked me if there was someone else, and we got into this huge argument. Tonight is the first time I’ve seen him since that night.”
“I’m sorry, Blue.” I let out a low whistle. “He hasn’t spoken to you tonight, either, I take it?”
“Nope.” She stands upright, crossing her ankles together. “And I’m not going out of my way to talk to him. He won’t even look at me, which means if I do approach him, it’ll probably end up in an argument and I don’t want to do that in public.”
I nod in understanding before a thought arises. “Blue, is that the truth, or are you afraid to talk to him because he’s not wrong?”
Before she can answer my question, Levi slides up next to me, his arm wrapping around my shoulders. He presses a kiss to the side of my head and I look up at him, noting the forced smile before he leans down to speak into my ear.
“I just sent Cole home.” I can hear the strain and worry in his voice. “There’s a bunch of paparazzi outside. Someone must have found out where we slipped off to after the auction and they want to ask about it. I have the bartender bringing the cararound back for us so we can slip out, but we should do that soon before some of them sneak back there.”
“Okay.” I tilt my head to press a quick kiss to his cheek. “Just give me a minute?”
He nods and straightens, giving Blue a smile before he moves a few feet away to give us some privacy. Closing the gap between us, I wrap my friend in a hug and tilt my head up to rest my chin on her shoulder.
“Call me if he doesn’t go home with you so we can continue this conversation.” She nods, squeezing me a little tighter. “I love you, honey.”
“I love you, too.”
Breaking apart, I grab my clutch off the table and my jacket off the barstool, walking up to Levi. He immediately reaches for my free hand, entwining our fingers together, and leads me towards the back door.
As we slip out into the chilly night air and into his car, my mind drifts back to my best friend and the predicament she’s found herself in. But when Levi reaches over and places his hand on my thigh, giving it a tight squeeze, my mind immediately drifts to my promise from earlier.
“Was I good?” Levi asks, reading my mind.
Angling myself so I can run a hand up and down his thigh, I tell him, “I think so.”
“And what do I get for being so good?”
