“I tried,” Paige says. “He said negative energy blocks abundance.”
I hear this as I slide into the booth across from them, setting my bag down with precision. The restaurant is too loud, with conversations bleeding together, and every table close enough to witness a mistake in real time. It’s exactly the kind of place where secrets go to die.
“You left,” I say.
“I stayed,” she admits. “Because I thought maybe he’d redeem himself.”
Nancy snorts. “Please tell me this gets worse.”
"He ordered bone broth. At a Mexican restaurant,” Paige adds. “And then explained his gut health journey.”
“That’s not a journey,” I say. “That’s a warning label.”
Paige points at me. “Thank you. Finally, someone who understands me.”
The waiter appears immediately, smiling like he’s already chosen sides. “Drinks?”
“Yes,” Paige says. “And if you have anything that pairs well with emotional trauma, I’ll take two.”
He laughs. “Rough date?”
“You could say that,” Nancy replies dryly. “She survived. We'll have margaritas, on the drinks specials menu.”
The waiter nods solemnly. “That’s dating in this city. Honestly? Everyone’s either overcommitted or emotionally unavailable. Sometimes both.”
“Efficiency,” I say. “It saves time.”
Paige lifts her water glass and points to me. “She treats dating like a work meeting that could’ve been an email.”
The waiter chuckles. "I'll be right back."
Nancy finally looks up at me. “What about you? Anything new in your love life?”
“No,” I say immediately. “And before you ask, that’s intentional.”
Paige grins. “She’s in her monastic era.”
“I’m in my focused era,” I correct. “Which is different.”
Nancy studies me over her menu. “You only sound like that when you’re about to do something reckless.”
“I don’t do reckless,” I say. “I do strategic.”
The waiter sets down our drinks. “That’s worse.”
Before I can respond, my phone buzzes on the table.
I glance down.
Congratulations! You’ve been selected as a finalist for Hearts on Ice: A Valentine’s Charity Night. Please reply YES to confirm your participation.
The table goes silent.
Paige lunges. “LET ME SEE.”
Nancy’s voice is calm. “What's this?”
The waiter freezes mid-step. “Oh my God. You put in a bid?”
