“I don’t feel like being anywhere near the inn. Renovations up to here.” I waved a hand above my head. “I need silence.”
“You okay?”
“Fine.”
“Sure?”
“Is it okay to just be okay?” I sighed, dropping into the deep, cushioned armchair in Eve’s living room and tucking my legs under me. The house was cozy, with flower vases in at least three spots.
Rio sprawled across the sofa, Eve perched beside her, and Daphne claimed the arm of my chair.
The wine was already open, glasses scattered around the coffee table.
“Want me to bore you with all the fun Owen and I are having, or ...?” Rio smiled, entirely pleased with herself.
“So, Ruby, tell us the real reason you want to spend the night at Evangeline’s,” Daphne said, deliberately turning her head toward me, her grin saying loud and clear:No thanks,Rio, you’ve got your happily-ever-after. We’re here for shitty tea and crappy beans spillage.
Rio laughed and smack-patted Daphne’s shoulder, who didn’t even blink, just went on. “It’s Seb, right? What, too much sex? You need a night off?”
“Can there ever be too much of that?” Rio asked dreamily, the ‘C’ lingering slightly in her throat.
Evangeline elbowed her side. “Hey, some of us aren’t getting any. Have mercy.”
“I wasn’t talking about me,” Rio said in mock defense. “I meant Love-’em-and-leave-’em Ruby.”
“Oh, you mean Have-fun-and-never-define Ruby?” Daphne added smoothly, swinging one foot idly, clearly enjoying herself.
“What about you, Daphne? You never tell us anything,” I said, looking up at her. She was still sitting on the arm of my chair.
“I can tell you that on my last date—which was some time ago, I admit—I had to break up a drunk and disorderly, and he was my date.”
“Oh, no!” Rio and I said together, while Evangeline recoiled in surprise, her hands flying to cover her mouth.
“Ancient history. I was too ashamed to tell you at the time. Now I’ve been dealing with ... a case, and that’s all I can say about it.” At our bewildered faces, she added, “So, Ruby. Seb?”
“He also had a date,” I muttered.
More shocked looks. “He told you?”
“Saw them.” God, it still pinched like pinson every nerve.
“What did you do?” Eve asked, hazel eyes wide.
“What do you mean? Nothing. We’re not a couple.”
Silence. Even after all these years, I could still shock them.
“Wait a minute,” Rio said, dragging the last word out like she’d just caught me in a lie. She’d known me the longest, and right now I wished she didn’t. “You had sex with him when he came back from the date, didn’t you?” An incredulous grin spread across her face like she’d just solved a riddle. “A possessive, mind-blowing sex.” Her expression screamed,you little minx.
“Of course. That’s what we do.” I kept my tone casual, leaving out the part about how we’d avoided each other for three days before that, and that she was exactly right.
“Ruby, come on. We weren’t born yesterday.” Rio reached over from the sofa and flicked my knee with her fingers.
Evangeline looked between us, hugging a throw pillow to her chest. Daphne leaned back on her hands like she was settling in for a show.
“What other motive could I have?” I asked.
“To remind him who’s who and what’s what,” Rio said, giving me a sharp look.
