Amie wasn’t going tocrash a bachelorette party. But she did want to talk more to Raina, and had failed during every attempt to do so thus far. She knew she could probably try to corner the woman at the bookshop, but wasn’t sure how much Raina would feel free to say in the store’s usual quiet atmosphere. Amie’s plan required noise … and hopefully some alcohol in Raina’s system.
Spring Street only had one rooftop bar, which thankfully meant Amie didn’t have to do a bar crawl to track down her suspect. She could hear the sounds of music and conversation from where she stood on the sidewalk, waiting for Ziya.
Amie checked her phone again before nervously smoothing down the front of her sundress. They were going undercover at a rooftop bar, she had reminded herself as she got dressed earlier that evening. She needed to dress the part. Yes, it was true that Ziya had on multiple occasions expressed how attractive she found Amie in that particular dress. But this knowledge hadn’t played a part in Amie’s decision to wear the dress. In fact, Amie had almostchickened outopted for a different outfit for that exact reason. But the mission came first, and this wasdefinitelythe best outfit for the job. So really, thinking about it, it was incredibly brave and noble for Amie to wear this dress despite its history with her ex-girlfriend.
Satisfied that she had made an airtight argument to the jury that lived in her brain, Amie forced her shoulders to relax as she looked down the street for Ziya. And there she was.
“Hi,” Ziya said, smiling as she approached. She was wearing cargo jeans and a V-neck olive-green tank top. Resting on the lace neckline of the top was a delicate orange citrine necklace that made her eyes look an even warmer shade of brown. A necklace which, most notably,Amiehad gotten her for her birthday.
“Hi,” Amie replied, resisting the urge to cross her arms as Ziya studied her outfit.
“I like your dress.” Was that a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth? Did Ziya think Amie wore the dress for her?I didn’t!Amie pleaded with the jury in her brain, who had begun to look like they didn’t quite believe her.I’m not wearing it for her!
“Thanks,” Amie said cautiously, not wanting her tone to indicate that she was mentally in the midst of a heated court case. Then, boldly, she added, “I like your necklace.”
That wasdefinitelya suppressed smile. “Thanks,” Ziya said, tilting her head slightly as she maintained eye contact with Amie.
What was THAT?Amie yelled at the jury, gesticulating wildly.How amIon trial here? Look at her! She wore that on purpose.
We’re a jury ofyourpeers, not hers, said the foreman.Also, just a heads up, this tension is only going to keep growing if you don’t break the silence.
“Okay!” Amie said loudly, her stomach fluttering from Ziya’s gaze. She squinted skyward as if she could see the rooftop bar from where she stood. “Thank you for coming.”
“Thank you for inviting me,” Ziya said formally, gently mocking Amie’s shift in tone. She too looked up. “Is Raina here yet?”
“Not sure. I assume so.”
They both looked back down, then away from each other.
“And the plan is to just try to get her talking?” Ziya asked the sidewalk.
“Basically,” Amie replied to a nearby bush. “I just feel like she has to knowsomething. I mentioned the Benny thing when I texted, right?”
“Mhm. Weird vibes.”
“Also, the way Raina was pushing Madeline to talk to Andrew,” Amie added. “It makes me wonder—”
“If they were working together,” Ziya finished.
“Exactly.”
“Well …” Ziya gestured for Amie to lead the way. “Let’s find out.”
The sun was low in the sky as they arrived on the rooftop. Tables of various sizes were scattered about the space, surrounded by well-cushioned chairs. The bar sat in the center of the roof, an island where the bartender could take orders from any side.
Ziya nudged Amie, drawing her attention to one corner of the roof where a group of women in party hats were loudly cheersing with champagne flutes. Raina was among them, her party hat askew as she clinked glasses with the other women.
“Table for two?” the host asked, picking up two cocktail menus.
“Can we sit at the bar?” Amie asked quickly. Sitting across from Ziya at an intimate table as the sun set felt dangerouslydate-ish. After the incredibly charged dress/necklace moment, she was determined to keep this mission on the rails however she could.
“How drunk do they look?” Amie asked after thanking the host and climbing up onto their seats. “They’re doing a champagne toast—I feel like that’s a mid-party thing to do, right? Have a couple drinks, then break out the champagne?”
“Hard to tell.” Ziya looked past Amie to assess the group. “All those feather boas are in the way; I can’t see if there are any other glasses on the table.”
They ordered drinks from the bartender—a Shirley Temple for Ziya and a watermelon mocktail for Amie.
“You’re not drinking?” Amie asked.
