Maddie actually did let out a laugh at that.“Well, alright then” She immediately got more serious and leaned over the table and into Brooke’s personal space. Clearly being as intimidating as possible. Brooke didn’t lean away.“Because if you do break her heart or let any of your friends traumatize her, I will find you. Liam Neeson style,” Maddie all but whispered that last bit.
Brooke smiled and leaned in conspiratorially.“I believe this is the part where I’m legally obligated to inform you that I have four black belts.”
Maddie laughed and leaned back, crossing her arms across her chest.“Then this is the part where I legally informyouthat I have a shotgun and shovel.”
Brooke huffed out a laugh.“Noted.”
Anna approached their conversation warily. She had gone to thank some of her regulars and had left them unattended for just long enough for Maddie to do her duty as Anna’s best-friend. Brooke was glad for it, honestly. She liked that Anna had someone who was so protective over her, someone looking out for her.“Well, Maddie. Am I allowed to go to England with her?”
Maddie narrowed her eyes at Brooke, but then winked.“She seems safe enough.”
“You didn’t threaten her, did you?” Anna asked, clearly already knowing the answer.
“I wouldn’t call it a threat,” Maddie said, innocently.“Simply an exchange of valuable information.”
Brooke just let out another easy laugh. Vivienne and Maddie would probably get along really well. Christine got along with just about anyone, but Vivienne would respect the way Maddie carried herself, her confidence and her honesty. They were qualities that Vivienne possessed and valued. It looked like Brooke would get the opportunity to introduce them. Just then Vivienne and Christine walked in the front door. Brooke looked at her wrist watch, they were early too, by more than thirty minutes. They must have known she would be spiraling. Her heart warmed. Her friends were truly the best. When she and Anna made it back, she’d thank them all with dinner, maybe even at Charlies.
Maddie was sitting in the seat across from B, the seat that usually remained empty for dinner. Brooke stood to hug her friends, but before Maddie could get up to leave, Brooke offered her a smile.Throw her a rope,Susan had said with regards to Anna. Brooke needed to let Anna in. Maddie had threatened Brooke over Anna’s heart, twice. That hadn’t been lost on her. Brooke and Anna were flying out tomorrow, and there was still so much for Brooke to unpack emotionally, but if there was any hope in hell that she actually had a shot with Anna Fourchette, she wasn’t going to blow it. The fact of it was, Anna mattered to her. Which meant getting to know Anna’s friends was important. Even if Brooke was right and she and Anna were just friends and would never be anything more, knowing Anna’s other friends made sense. Right?
“Wait, Maddie. Join us. I know you came in tonight to meet with Anna about next week and have this little chat with me, but if you’re free, I’d love it if you met my friends.” Brooke glanced at her friends.
Christine looked absolutely thrilled. Even Vivienne looked pleased.
Maddie nodded, immediately relaxing. She stood and tugged her jacket off, clearly willing to get comfortable.“Alright. I’m not opposed to that.”
“Brilliant,” Brooke said, her smile widening.“Maddie, allow me to introduce you to Christine McGuire and Vivienne Carlisle, my two best friends. Christine, Vivienne, this is Maddie.” They all shook hands then, nodding to each other like this was some sort of preplanned business meeting.
“So, you’re how Anna gets to go with B?” Christine asked, though it was clear she already knew the answer.“Anna’s told me about you. It’s so nice to meet you.” They all sat back down at the table.
They settled into easy conversation as Anna approached their table cautiously and curiously with a round of water and menus.“I’m not sure if you ladies even need menus at this point, but we did add a new soup.”
“Is that one of the recipes you were trying the other day?” Brooke asked.
Anna beamed and nodded, clearly pleased that Brooke remembered.“Yeah, it was that and, well, something we’ve not worked onto the menu yet.”
“Oh?” Christine asked, clearly interested in the mystery item.
Anna waved it off.“Oh it’s just pork tenderloin over fried potatoes. It’s just not on the menu because I haven’t gotten to make it for the team yet.”
“It sounds heavenly,” Brooke said, honestly. She could feel Vivienne and Maddie watching her from across the table, but she didn’t care. Anna was smiling at her.
“Do you want to try it?” Anna asked.“I happen to know the chef.”
Brooke nodded, trying to not smile too embarrassingly wide. She managed to keep it to a small, tight lipped grin.
Anna winked at her.“You got it. And for the rest of you?”
After they had finished eating, Anna squeezed Brooke’s shoulder from the other side of the half-wall that separated the kitchen from the dining area. Brooke wasn’t startled, Anna had been chatting with them for the last minute or so. She turned to give Anna her full attention. Anna nodded away from the rest of the group.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Anna asked, a subtle blush settling over her cheeks.
Brooke nodded, quickly.“Yes of course.” She stood from her seat.“Excuse me for a moment,” she said, smiling at her friends and Maddie, and followed Anna far enough away from where their friends sat that they couldn’t be overheard.
“That was really kind of you to invite Maddie to stay,” Anna said. She smiled up at Brooke in a way that nearly melted Brooke on the spot.
“I want to get to know your friends, too, Darling.”
Anna’s eyes dropped decidedly to Brooke’s lips. Not for long, but Brooke caught it. Her heart leapt to her throat.“Maddie wasn’t too overprotective was she?”
