Anna smiled a small shy smile, one Brooke had never had the pleasure of receiving.“Thank you, Brooke.” Anna’s eyes shifted to the front door and straightened up slowly.“Your friends are here.”
Brooke’s eyes snapped to the front door of the restaurant, immediately regretting it when she turned back and Anna had moved back to the prep table. Brooke stood and doled out quick, tight hugs to Vivienne and Christine, her two best friends in the whole world.
Vivenne was tall, naturally tan, with glossy, straight black hair and high cheekbones. She had been approached several times about modeling, but was a rather successful investment banker and had no interest in being reliant on her looks when her brain was devastatingly reliable. Brooke had grown up with her when they had subsequently been shipped off to the same boarding school.
Christine, they had met later at university. She was tiny and adorable, with thick, light brown curly hair, and freckles that were so perfectly smattered across her cheeks they almost felt unreal.
The two women took their usual seats, Christine next to Brooke, and Vivienne sitting opposite Christine.
“How are things?” Brooke asked her friends, knowing that the second she shared her news, it would monopolize the conversation. She didn’t want that for many reasons, mainly though that it didn’t feel fair to her friends. They only did this once a week. They called it their weekly therapy session, despite the fact that they all had their own therapists.
Christine let out a happy squeak. "Todd and I are thinking about getting a cat!”
Brooke’s eyebrows raised. An animal together was a serious commitment. She hadn’t realized that Christine and Todd were there yet, but thinking about it, it didn’t surprise her. They had been dating for over a year now and were talking about moving in together.“Chris, that’s amazing news.”
Christine bounced happily in her seat.“Thanks, B. I’m so excited. We’re going to the shelter this weekend.”
Even Vivienne, queen of the resting bitch face, looked happy for their friend.“Christine, that's awesome. But please don’t give it a human name. I hate it when people name their cats things like‘Jake.’”
Brooke let out a mischievous laugh.“Please name your cat Jake. Oh, or Kyle, something generic.” They all laughed at that, Vivienne despite herself.
“What are we laughing at, ladies? I could use a chuckle,” Anna said, approaching their table. Brooke had noticed several visits ago that Anna always made it a point to personally wait on their table. She had wanted to read something into it, but knew that it was probably nothing. Anna likely waited on all of her regulars. Itwasconcerning that she needed a chuckle, though. Brooke wondered what that was about. She wondered a lot about what Anna might be like outside of these four walls.
“I’m getting a cat. We’re trying to come up with good cat names,” Christine offered, happily.
Anna thought for a second.“Ohhh fun. What about Furrrnando?”
Brooke threw her head back in a laugh about that. She really was a sucker for clever word play. Vivienne and Christine eyed her, amusement clear in their eyes. They knew Brooke thought Anna was gorgeous. Brooke was pretty sure everyone that had ever visitedLa Fourchetteknew that Brooke thought Anna was gorgeous.
“Anna, that’s brilliant. Thank you,” Christine said.
Anna smiled, clearly pleased with her contribution.“Is everyone having the usual, or are we feeling adventurous tonight?” Anna asked.
Brooke, the world's biggest creature of habit, just wanted to make Anna smile again.“What would you order?” She asked. Christine and Vivienne’s eyes both shot to her.
“Who are you and where is Brooke?” Vivienne asked.
Brooke blushed and shrugged.“It’s still me. It’s just been a big couple of days.”
Anna smiled gently at Brooke, that same soft look she had given Brooke before. It made Brooke want to melt on the spot.“I would order the chicken breast. I’ve figured out how to sauce the broccolini that comes with it in a way that makes the lemon in the chicken just pop. I’m actually pretty proud of myself for it,” Anna said, significantly brighter than she had been when Brooke had first arrived.
Brooke nodded.“Then that’s what I’ll have.”
“You know what? Same,” Christine said, her smile shifting from Brooke to Anna.
Anna looked genuinely pleased.
“Sorry, Anna. I still want my steak. It’s the only time I eat red meat all week,” Vivienne said, at least offering a sincere smile.
Anna looked positively radiant in that moment, Brooke thought.“Thanks, ladies,” Anna said, waving over her maitre d.’ “Craig, can you please get them a round of the Pinot Grigio? It’s on me.”
Brooke blushed. It was a thoughtful gesture that really wasn’t necessary, but she knew Anna was showing her thanks and appreciation. As soon as Anna had left the table, Christine and Vivienne snapped their attention to Brooke.
“Seriously, B, what’s going on with you?” Vivienne asked, her voice a thousand times softer than usual.
Brooke bit her bottom lip. So much for not monopolizing the conversation tonight.“Nathaniel called.”
“Wait, like, as in your brother?” Christine asked.
