“The trip was amazing. His place was insane, and there was even a little garden and everything. And he cooked. On top of other things . . .”
“Good for you. You deserve to get treated. I’m glad things seem to be going in the right direction now.”
“Yeah, ever since I got back from that Catskills weekend and we talked, he’s really been putting in the effort.”
“So, are you guys, like, boyfriend and girlfriend?”
Cierra laughed. “Yeah, pretty much.”
“Ooh, that’s a big moment! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!”
Cierra shrugged, looking down at her water glass. “I don’t know . . . it’s new. And I know you had doubts about us at first.”
This was part of the reason — but if Cierra was being real with herself, she knew her other worries: What if it didn’t stick? And why did she still catch herself thinking about Erik? Julian had apologized, met her friends, taken her to his home-away-from-home, but she still felt like she was walking on quicksand. What if this feeling never went away?
“But it’s been going well ever since that dinner, right? I know I was a little protective, but you seem genuinely happy. And, really, that’s all that matters to me.”
Cierra composed herself. “I really am. My family is visiting later this week for a Broadway show, and when I told him about it, he even asked to meet them.”
“Wow. Okay, then. That’s serious.”
“Yeah . . . I mean, it seems like the real deal.”
“So.” Mia focused her eyes. “Are you in love?”
“I . . . think so.”
“You think?” Mia said with a raised brow. “I don’t think that’s how that works. But regardless, I’m happy for you. He’s sure as hell got more personality than Harry.” She raised her plastic cup filled with lemony bits swirling in the water. “Here’s to that.”
“Thank you,” Cierra said and tapped glasses with her friend.
As the two friends carried on, Cierra occasionally noticed Mia looking curiously at something — or someone — behind her.
“I feel like this woman, girl, I don’t know, keeps looking in our direction.”
Cierra turned around to see a college-aged girl in glasses looking excited and whispering to her friends. To Cierra’s surprise, the girl got out of her seat and made her way over.
“Um, hi, sorry, this is so awkward but, um, are you Cierra Brooks?”
“Yeah, that’s me.”
The girl’s face lit up, and she started to fidget even more, looking back to her friends and waving them over.
“Okay, this is so weird, but like . . . we’ve been following you for months, and I’m a huge fan. Could we take a selfie?”
Across from Cierra, Mia was practically bursting with glee and was mouthing anoh-my-god.Cierra did nothing for two seconds, stunned, before saying, “Of course!”
After snapping a picture and asking if she could tag her (which Mia urged without consultation), the girl and her friends left, thanking Cierra for the photo and gushing about a few of their favorite recipes before heading back to their table. “You’re such a boss bitch. I hope I can get myself figured out soon, like you,” the girl said earnestly.
Mia shook Cierra’s forearm. “Oh my god! Can you believe that? You just gotspotted. This is so exciting. Has this ever happened before?”
“No, never.”
“Okay, this is major.”
Instead of emphatically agreeing, Cierra gave a forced grin.
“Um, okay, why aren’t you more excited about this?!” Mia asked, her brows furrowing in confusion.
