I knew it was only a matter of time before I only saw my friends a few times a year. I was happy for them and pleased they’d found their other halves, but I missed them. And I knew I would continue to miss them.
We tried hard to fit in time together, but all of our schedules were so hectic that it was difficult and would only become more so as they married and had kids.
As soon as I walked into the restaurant, I saw that Tanya and Yancy were already at the table. The restaurant was well known for their mimosas and served groups with an ornate drink dispenser they sat in the middle of the table. The dispenser was made to resemble a vintage cut crystal jar from the Victorian era but made with glass. The dispensers weren’t all exactly the same and might be pink, green, or clear. It was part of the reason we loved coming here for brunch.
There was already a pale green dispenser on the table between Yancy and Tanya, but Yancy was the only one with a champagne flute in front of her. Tanya’s short glass looked as though it contained cranberry juice.
They both grinned and got to their feet when they saw me approach the table.
Tanya pulled me in for a tight hug, her little baby bump nudging me. “It’s good to see you, Grier.”
I squeezed her back. “It’s good to see you, too.”
When Tanya released me, Yancy grabbed me. As she wrapped her arms around me, she said, “I see you’ve recovered from getting smacked in the face by a bouquet.”
I rolled my eyes. “I blame Chelsea for that.”
“Not Lucy?” Yancy asked as she released me.
“Her, too.”
Tanya and Yancy shot each other smirks, which made me sigh. “Can I at least get an adult beverage before y’all start giving me shit?”
Tanya laughed. “I suppose.”
As soon as we all sat down, the server came over with a water glass and champagne flute and set them on the table in front of me. She smiled as she stood next to me. “My name is Katie. Can I get you anything else right now or are we waiting until the rest of your party arrives?”
“I’d love a cappuccino,” I replied. “With an extra shot.
I needed the caffeine if I was going to make it through the day without a nap.
“Can we get a bread basket and mini butter board?” Tanya asked. “I’m starving, and I need something if I’m going to make it until our friends get here.”
Katie smiled again. “No problem.” She glanced at Yancy. “Anything for you?”
Yancy shook her head and took a sip of her mimosa.
When Katie walked away, Yancy put her glass down and asked, “How are things with you, Grier? I feel like I never get to talk to you now that you’re working with Davide and not having lunch with us every week. How is it working at the gallery?”
“I love it,” I answered. “Davide is easy to work with.”
A snicker came from behind me. “Did he pay you extra to say that?”
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Lucy and Chelsea standing behind me, both grinning.
“No, he didn’t. He is easy to work for.”
“Maybe if you’re not one of his artists,” Lucy quipped, rolling her eyes. “Because that man is so freaking demanding whenever I talk to him. He’s almost as bad as Chris was when I worked for him.”
It was my turn to roll my eyes. “I doubt that.”
“Yeah, I’m calling bullshit on that one, too,” Chelsea said. “I’m not sure anyone could be as demanding as Chris.”
“Except maybe my old boss,” I muttered. No one replied to that because they’d heard enough of my stories to know what I meant.
I got up and hugged Chelsea, then Lucy.
“How’s married life?” I asked Lucy as she and Chelsea sat down.
