Kate shot a look that said she didn’t believe her.
“I’ve just opened a bottle of wine, but I think you’re in need of something stronger.”
Eva followed Kate down the hall toward her kitchen, the wooden floorboards creaking underfoot. She noticed the picture frames that used to line the wall had been removed, Kate stripping away the reminders of a marriage no longer viable.
Two wine glasses—one full and one empty—sat on the black granite counter of Kate’s kitchen, but Kate’s attention was on her extensive liquor collection, her hands settled on her hips.
“Martini with enough gin to knock a lesser woman unconscious?” Kate said.
“Please.” Eva heard a meow, and glanced down to find Kate’s tortoiseshell cat, Penny, winding around her calves.
“She’s missed you,” Kate said, when Eva bent down to scratch behind her ears. “And Franklin. She has no one to play with anymore.”
“You should get her a puppy.”
Kate laughed as she poured a generous helping of gin into a glass. “I do not have the patience to potty train a puppy.” She added vermouth and an olive before pushing the glass over the counter to Eva. “Have you eaten?”
“No.” Eva had been in too much of a rush to get out of her hotel room. She eyed the full glass in her hand after taking a sip that nearly made her eyes water. “I should before I finish this, though.”
“Wouldn’t want to be hungover on your trip tomorrow,” Kate said, her eyes twinkling. “What would the kids say?”
“They wouldn’t dare say anything,” Eva said, and Kate grinned.
“I’d love to sit in on one of your classes. I bet they’re scared shitless of you.”
“You’ve seen me teach before.” Not often, but Kate had sometimes sat in on a lecture or two.
“Yeah, but not teenagers.”
“Some of them are better behaved than college kids. At least no one cracks open a red bull mid-way through a class.”
“Hey, don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it. Red bulls have gotten me through many a late night of grading.” Kate took a sip of her wine. “Want to order takeout?”
Eva eyed the stack of pizza boxes and empty containers from their favorite Chinese place on the counter and raised an eyebrow. “How much takeout have you eaten in the last few weeks?”
Kate grumbled. “You know Dan did all the cooking. I hate it. Especially after a day at work.”
“I’ll make something.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I don’t mind. You know I like cooking. Think of it as payment for the martini.” Eva opened the nearest cupboard and peered inside. “When was the last time you went shopping?”
“Um… two weeks ago?”
“Honestly, Kate. How did you survive when you were single?”
“I had roommates.”
Eva shook her head in exasperation. She managed to cobble together enough ingredients to make a simple pasta dish; it wasn’t her best work, but it was edible, and at least it would soak up some of the martini she drank with it.
“So,” Kate said, once they’d finished eating, eyeing Eva across the dining table. “I believe you have a story for me.”
Eva was impressed she’d managed to wait this long to ask. “I need a refill first,” Eva said, shaking her now-empty glass. “I can’t do this sober.”
“Must be a bad story,” Kate said, swiping the glass from between Eva’s fingers.
“It’s not a good one.” Eva gathered up their plates and dumped them in the sink as Kate topped her drink up. They retired to the living room, curling up on opposite ends of the couch. Penny leapt into Eva’s lap the second she’d sat down.
