Jane: I’d never skip such a thing. She obviously got scouted by a modeling agency or something
Lola: I was going to say a drastic new haircut
Jane: Think bigger, Lola. This is Kate we’re talking about
A hand swats my arm and I almost drop my phone into the coffee mug. “Hey!” I say, looking to Lydia who is glaring beside me.
“Put your phone down and talk to me so I don’t have to be alone with Charlie and Elise.”
“I’m literally right here. You’re not alone with them.”
She sighs, looking off into the distance dramatically. “You ignoring me wouldn’t be so bad if I could bring my boyfriend to brunch.”
I roll my eyes at her blatant attempt and bringing Brad up any chance she can. “You’ve only been dating him for, like, two months. You know Kate’s rule: you have to have been dating for six months.”
She tips her head back on a groan, a pout on her lips. “But that’s so far away.”
The bell over the door rings and I turn my head without actively thinking about it. I swear, something in the air shifts and forces the world into slow-motion as I see who walks through the door. Black pumps. Blonde hair. A smile thrown over her shoulder at the practical super model walking in behind her. Beside me, Lydia sits up straighter.
Kate has arrived.
She struts to the table, pushing her sunglasses on top of her blonde waves that never look out of place or frizzy or anything less than perfect. Even if there is, say, a spontaneous spring rainstorm. My own hand flies to my hair without thinking about it, patting back loose strands in my low claw clip.
“Oh, you’re all early,” she says. I can’t tell if she actually thinks she’s on time or if she’s making a bad joke. I assume the former, but no one asks.
Her boyfriend, Jason, pulls out one of the chairs, letting her effortlessly slide into it without messing up her outfit.
She casually fluffs up her hair as she looks around the table at everyone in turn. I tense up, just waiting for the comments to start. Then her blue eyes lock on my shirt.
One eyebrow lifts and she points at me. “What’s with the shirt?”
I look down at the expensive monstrosity. The shirt isn’t great the best of times—it’s too big for me and bright yellow color washes me out—and right now, it’s even worse, because I didn’t manage to dry it all the way with the washroom dryer.
“I got caught in the rainstorm on my way here,” I admit, plucking at the shirt.
She tilts her head to the side. “No umbrella?”
I imagine her walking through the rainstorm, Jason holding a sleek black umbrella over her head so she doesn’t have to waste the energy. Maybe I would look that perfect if I had a boyfriend to do all my bidding.
I mean, probably not, but a girl can dream.
“No umbrella,” I confirm.
“Bummer,” Jason, replies as he sits beside her. He leans down to deposit Kate’s comically large designer tote bag on the floor, but she swats him in the arm.
“Use the chair,” Kate says. Her eyes dart to me before she adds in a quieter voice, “It’s not like Jane ever brings anyone to brunch.”
The worst part is that she probably thinks I couldn’t hear her.
“Thanks, Kate,” I murmur around the rim of my coffee mug. I have a feeling I’ll be needing more than one for today’s family time.
“Well maybe next time Brad will be able to make it tosibling brunch to finally meet everyone,” Lydia chirps beside me, sneaking him into the conversation yet again.
Kate raises a brow at her now. “Haven’t you only been together, like, two months?”
“So?” She sighs dreamily, then adds, “When you know you know, right?”
“What about you, Jane?” Elise asks me, likely to change the course of the conversation. I’d be happy about it, except for I can already feel in my gut where this topic of conversation is going. “Are you seeing anyone?”
