Elle:Make it five, Manish is baring his fangs at my admittedly delicious-looking arms
Manish:Listen, I didn’t ask for a snowpocalypse. We do what we must
Adele:We should hit up the lights tonight at Barstow Gardens. Mom said the storm didn’t hit as hard in Winter River, so it should be open. I hear they’re serving hot toddies this year
Manish:I’ll endure a root canal for a hot toddy
Wes:I have to work. Gotta prep for that Two Turtledoves event at the restaurant on Thursday
Adele:Jesus, the Turtledoves. On Christmas Eve Eve?
Sloane:At least this one will be fun
Wes:Thanks, Sloane
Adele:Just one more after that, right?
Sloane:Yeah. Except it’s the open mic where everyone confesses their love through bad poetry and even worse covers of Celine Dion songs
Wes:At least our hearts will go on with margaritas
Sloane:Ah yes, it’s all coming back to me now
Wes:I know you’re not disparaging the power of love
Sloane:I’d rather be all by myself, to be honest
Adele:I hate you both
Brighton chuckled at the banter but tilted her head, something from the day before tickling her brain. “So…are Sloane and Wes—”
“Totally in love?” Lola said, eyes on her phone.
“Um, I was gonna say flirting.”
Lola blinked and glanced at Brighton wide-eyed. “Oops.”
Brighton laughed. “Oh my god, really? Likelovelove?”
“He’s in love with her, at least. They were high schoolsweethearts and everything until they broke up so she could go to New York.”
Brighton felt a twinge somewhere near her heart. “How do you know all this?”
“He told me. The day of the horseback riding event.”
Brighton shuddered. “Please, we do not speak of such things.”
Lola laughed. “It’s hush-hush, though. He’s actually kind of cute about it.”
“My lips are sealed,” Bright said, miming zipping her mouth, then cleared her throat. “So…do you think she still likes him?” Somehow the answer felt monumental, personal.
Lola frowned, then opened her mouth only to close it again. “I don’t know,” she finally said.
Brighton nodded casually, but the silence that spilled between them felt heavy, like they weren’t really talking about Wes and Sloane at all. Then Brighton put her hands on her hips, brows furrowed, mouth twisted dramatically like she was thinking really hard.
“So wait,” she said, lifting a single finger into the air.
Lola groaned. “Yes, okay, yes. You were right. Wes and I were in cahoots.”
