“Where did you grow up?”
“Indiana,” Eve answered, giving Josie an amused look. “So many questions.”
“Sorry,” she said with a shrug. “I’m just curious. How did you get from there to here?”
Eve stared at her for a long moment, as if deciding how to answer that question. “I had a falling-out with my family.”
“When you came out?”
Eve nodded, a shadow passing over her expression. “They’re not supportive.”
“I’m sorry,” Josie said. She had a lot of friends with similar stories, and it made her even more grateful for her own family. “That’s shitty.”
“It is what it is,” Eve said with a shrug. She exhaled deeply, staring at her water glass. “I’d always been fascinated with New York, but I couldn’t afford to live here at first, so I accepted a marketing position in New Jersey.”
“New Jersey, huh?” she asked with a smile. “I can’t quite picture you in the suburbs.”
“Well, I always had my sights set on the city.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. And is that where you met Lisa? In New Jersey?”
Eve cleared her throat. “Yes.”
“How long were you together?” She knew she was prying now, but Eve never volunteered this kind of information on her own, nor would she have any qualms about putting an end to it if she became uncomfortable with Josie’s questions.
“We lived together four years, married for one.” She looked up. “We got married the day after they legalized it.”
“That’s badass,” Josie told her, and boy was she in trouble, because she liked Eve more and more with every new tidbit she learned about her.
A smile toyed with Eve’s lips. “It was a good day.”
“I’m glad.”
Their sushi arrived then, interrupting the conversation. And Josie watched as Eve buttoned herself up—metaphorically speaking—soft smiles and personal confessions vanishing behind her professional veneer. When she next spoke, it was to remind Josie about the bartender interviews she’d scheduled for the following afternoon.
Their conversation continued in this vein as they ate, although Josie didn’t really mind. She knew these glimpses into Eve’s personal life weren’t things she shared often or with many people. So she chatted happily about the weather, the prints they’d selected, and the relaunch on Friday as they finished their meal.
But as they walked outside into the sunny April afternoon, she reached for Eve’s hand and gave it a quick squeeze, just to thank her for it. And Eve squeezed back before shaking her hand free and leading the way toward the subway.
13
“Another round!” Josie slammed her shot glass on the table and threw her head back with a laugh. Rum spread a delicious warmth through her belly, scrambling her thoughts. She was at one of her favorite bars—just for fun, because she didn’t own this one—with two of her favorite people, and it was exactly what she’d needed tonight.
“I’ll get it.” Adam pushed back from the table and headed toward the bar while Kaia sipped her martini, staring into it thoughtfully.
“You’re awfully quiet tonight,” Josie said, nudging her friend with her elbow.
“Actually, I was thinking about the girl I went out with last week,” she said with a shrug. “I thought we had a really good time, but she hasn’t texted.”
“Maybe she’s waiting to hear from you first?” Josie suggested.
“Nope. I texted her a few days ago, said I had fun, and suggested we get together again. Crickets.”
“Ugh,” Josie said. “I’m sorry.”
“I mean, we only went out twice, so it’s no big deal.” She swirled her martini glass. “But I just thought we had a connection, you know?”
“Yeah, I do.” She thought of Eve.
