I leaned against Linny and then kissed her cheek.“Where are we going tonight?”
“The Brew House.”
I’d heard of the place.It was an upscale restaurant, even though the name implied otherwise.“How did you get a reservation?”
They were usually booked out months in advance.
Malena shrugged.“The owner is one of my clients.He said if I ever wanted to go to let him know.”
Keely snorted.“That’s because he desperately wants to get into your pants.”
Malena swatted at her.“He does not.Besides, he’s met Thad.”
Her husband, Thad, was also a lawyer and had joined them in their office.At the moment, they all worked independently, but they’d been talking about joining forces and making it official.But we’d have to move to a different building first, because things were getting tight.We had one room that we used as file storage and a meeting room, but that only worked because Thad and Malena shared an office.
We parked and piled out of the car, luckily not having to walk far.The hostess ushered us straight through the restaurant and to a secluded table at the back.
I turned in place, taking in the unique design.The building used to be a toy factory.Now, instead of conveyor belts, beer barrels were stacked everywhere and giant fermentation tanks sat in the back.There was also a yeasty smell in the air, telling me the equipment wasn’t just for show.Thankfully, there was a glass wall in front of the tanks, since I could do without smelling rotten eggs while eating dinner.
“They couldn’t find another building for their restaurant, so they temporarily set up in their factory.But everyone loves it so much that they decided to make it permanent,” Malena explained at my obvious interest.
She and Linny both ordered a virgin mojito, and Keely and I got lemon drop martinis as soon as the waiter approached our table.
Keely leaned forward, a twinkle in her eyes that I was immediately suspicious of.“So, Mae.I’m dating this guy right now.He has a brother who recently went through a divorce.I showed him a photo of you, and he was immediately interested.”
Putting my hands up, I vehemently shook my head.“No way.Nope.Not happening.I told you I’m not interested in ever dating again.”
Malena took my hand in hers.“One bad apple doesn’t mean the whole batch is off.”
“I’m not even divorced yet.”
Keely scoffed.“That didn’t stophim.”
“Guys, I love you.From the bottom of my heart.I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have you in my life.But please, hear me when I say this: I do not want to date.I do not want to have another man in my life.”
Vance’s face flashed through my brain at my words, mocking me.Weird that he was the first person I thought about when dating came up.Not that I would ever date him.Or that he would ever want to date me.He was so far out of my league I couldn’t even see the tips of his shoes.
Our drink orders arrived in delicate long-stemmed glasses.We didn’t waste any time picking them up in a toast.“To friendship.”
“And kicking cheating husbands to the curb,” Keely added.
I swallowed too much in my excitement to take a drink and bent over, coughing.Linny jumped up, her arms out as if she was ready to perform the Heimlich maneuver.Waving her off, I composed myself.I needed to get out more.I was not fit to be in public.
Should have had a small sip instead of emptying half the glass.Especially when the last time I’d had a drink was at Christmas.
The alcohol went straight to my head.My limbs went pleasantly numb, thoughts of the kids only popping up every few minutes instead of every few seconds, and my cheeks heated.
Linny sat down again but perched on the edge of her chair, ready to jump up at a moment’s notice in case she had to perform first aid after all.
I gave her my best I’m-not-drunk-even-if-you-think-I-am-after-one-sip grin.“I’m totally fine.My drink just went down the wrong way.”
She draped her cloth napkin over her lap.“If you’re sure.”
“Absolutely.Now, let’s talk about Nora’s trip to Italy.”
Anything to take the attention off me.
Dinner went on without any other incidents, but I did have three more lemon drops.They were the perfect mix of sour and sweet, and if ever there was a right time and place to indulge, it was tonight.My friends would get me home safely.
