* * *
As it turned out,Josie was too impatient to wait for Eve to make the next move and texted her on Thursday morning to ask again about lunch, but Eve replied that she was busy with clients. By Friday evening, Josie was feeling pretty glum about things. She missed Eve. Their work schedules made it almost impossible for them to see each other, and she hated it.
“Why the long face?” Adam asked, sidling up beside her as she unloaded the dishwasher behind the bar.
“Just wishing I didn’t have to work all weekend, I guess. Eve works weekdays, and I work nights and weekends. It’s…not ideal, to say the least.”
“How are things going for you guys otherwise?” he asked.
“Good,” she said, then sighed. “Reallygood. I mean, I can’t stop thinking about her, and it’s killing me that I hardly ever get to see her. I just want to be able to spend time together like regular couples do.”
“Well, hey now, there are plenty of couples who have to work around challenging work schedules. I’m more interested in the fact that you’re calling yourselves a couple, because the last time I checked, you guys were just casually hooking up.”
“I’m probably getting ahead of myself, but wefeellike a couple when we’re together. Honestly, I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”
“You’re falling for her,” he said, looking delighted.
“I definitely could, if I let myself.” She paused with a glass in each hand. “That’s crazy, though, isn’t it? I mean, we’ve only known each other a month, and we weren’t even sleeping together most of that time.”
“When you know, you know, right?” he said with a dramatic lift of his eyebrows. “That’s what they say.”
“Knock it off.” She whacked him with a dish cloth. “You’re supposed to discourage me here. Eve’s very much a loner these days, and she’s been through a lot. She’s going to need to take things really slow, if she’s ever ready for anything serious at all.”
He rested a hand on her shoulder. “Then you take things slow, but keep that big heart of yours in check, Jo. I don’t want to see you get hurt if she bails on you.”
“I’ll try,” she told him.
“Are you guys gossiping without me?”
Josie turned to find Kaia standing at the bar, and her mood instantly lifted at the sight of her friend. “Adam was giving me relationship advice, if you can believe it.”
“And I missed it?” Kaia leaned her elbows on the bar, listening with wide eyes as Josie and Adam caught her up to speed. “Wow. Things with Eve have gotten way more serious since the last time I talked to you.”
“Well, they have and they haven’t,” Josie said. “We’ve only gone out a few times. I’m probably blowing it way out of proportion in my head.”
“Hey, you can’t help how you feel. I hope it all works out for you guys.”
“So do I.” Josie poured a beer for Kaia and set it on the bar in front of her. “How are you? Any news from that girl you went out with a few weeks ago?”
Kaia shook her head. “Never heard from her, but I’ve got a date with someone else tomorrow night.”
“Fingers crossed,” Josie said.
“Yeah.” Kaia sighed, staring into her beer.
“What’s that look for?” Josie hadn’t talked to Kaia as much since Dragonfly opened, and suddenly, she was worried she’d missed something important, because her friend didn’t seem quite like herself tonight.
“I just…I guess I miss you guys,” Kaia said, her gaze flicking to Josie’s.
Josie felt a pang in her chest, because she knew immediately what Kaia meant. Adam was working here with her now, which meant they were seeing more of each other…and less of Kaia. In fact, Josie had been so busy with work and Eve that she hadn’t texted Kaia all week. “Shit. I’ve been a lousy friend, haven’t I?”
“No, you haven’t,” Kaia said. “You’ve had a lot on your plate lately.”
“I’m so sorry, Kai,” Adam said, leaning over the bar to pull her in for a hug. “Working two jobs made me an asshole.”
“No, it didn’t,” Kaia said with a laugh. “You guys have both been really busy getting Dragonfly up and running, and Josie’s spending what little free time she has with Eve, which is amazing, but I just have no idea when we’re going to all hang out together anymore.”
Josie felt tears pushing behind her eyelids, and she pressed her palms against them. “My work schedule is killing me, you guys. I thought it might be different once Dragonfly opened, but so far, it’s not.”
