“Girl, you know they smolder. It’s hard to hold it together watching him pose for the camera. I don’t know how he does it.” She paused and looked away, her face scrunched up in deep thought. “Oh, wait. Yes, I do. It’s because he’s looking at you, the woman he’s lusting for who won’t give it up.”
Our meals arrived, and we temporarily put our conversation on hold while we shoveled it in as fast as we could. Stef and I both had no shame in our eating game. It was one of the reasons why we were such good friends. When I felt like my stomach wasn’t touching my backbone anymore, I took a drink and stared at Stef with my fork hovering over my food. “You really think I’m being stupid for making such a big deal out of this whole age thing?”
“Yes,” she told me without hesitation. Then she grabbed a French fry.
I set down what was left of my wrap and brushed my hands together, my appetite suddenly gone. “Don’t beat around the bush, Stef. Tell me how you really feel.”
The waitress came over to check on us, saving me from whatever smartass remark she was about to make. “This is all a moot point,” I told her when she left again. “You saw him. Not thirty minutes ago, he completely ignored me. I mean, I practically brushed shoulders with him. There’s no way he didn’t see us. And,” I continued when she opened her mouth to put in her two cents. “I haven’t heard a word from him in almost a week. Not a text. Not a quick phone call. A dick pic. Nothing.”
“Would you really want a dick pic?”
“Of course not. That’s not the point.”
“What is the point?”
I released an exasperated breath. “The point is that I’m way too old and entirely too busy to be sitting here wasting our entire lunch doing guesswork about a guy like we’re still fifteen or something.”
“Then why do you keep bringing him up?” Her expression was completely serious, but her eyes danced with humor.
I laughed. “Stop it. And I’m not bringing him up anymore. I’m going back to my life as usual.” I eyed her as I took a sip of my tea. It was time to turn the tables. My friend was hiding something from me. And for a woman who was usually an open book, it must be something juicy. “So! Who’s your hot date?”
Caught off guard, she choked on her food. Watery eyes looked up at me as she reached for her tea. I waited patiently while she took a drink and bought time to think up a good reason that I was pretty positive would have nothing at all to do with the real reason.
“It’s just a work thing.”
A work thing? She was an author. Most of the time she was holed up in her house in sweatpants and a stained T-shirt with her hair held back off her face by her headphones. “Like an office party?” I teased.
Stef leaned back in her chair and patted her full stomach. “I wouldn’t wear rhinestones to an office party. Even if I had an office.”
“Come on, Stef. Give it up. I’ve told you all my secrets.” I normally wasn’t this nosey, but I really needed something to take my mind off my own issues. “Spill.”
She gave me a shrug. “It’s really no big deal. I entered two of my books for an award and I needed something pretty. Just in case I win.”
I didn’t buy it. The only award ceremony I’d heard her say was worth entering took place during the summer, which meant there wouldn’t be another one until next year. Why would she be buying a dress for an event so far away? Anyone who had weight fluctuations—aka most women—knew better than to do that. “That’s your story?”
“Yup. And I’m sticking to it.” She grinned as she waved at the waitress to tell her we were ready for the check.
She dropped it on our table, thanking us for coming, and I grabbed it before Stef could. “All right. But I want pictures, or it didn’t happen.”
“What didn’t happen?”
“Whatever—or whoever—it is that’s so scandalous you can’t tell me about it.”
We gathered our coats and purses and stood to leave. “You’re the only one with a scandalous love life, Ailee. Wait until your ex finds out you’re seeing someone half his age.”
I jabbed my arm into my coat sleeve at the mention of “He Who Shall Not Be Named” and made a face. “Just seeing the look on his face would almost make it worth it.”
“Please make sure I’m there when he finds out.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“You’re a true friend.”
On the sidewalk outside the restaurant, we hugged before Stef headed to her apartment to work for the rest of the afternoon and I made my way to the bus stop. Parking was always such a nightmare, I avoided driving into the city whenever possible. Why fight all the traffic when the bus had a direct route from my little town to the section of Seattle where Stef lived? It even had its own lane all the way into the city.
Halfway there, I passed by Whole Foods and decided to make a quick stop. My fridge was pretty empty and avoiding the grocery store on a weekend was something I strove for. Though I would probably have to make a run for the heavier items I didn’t want to lug onto the bus.
I made a face at the thought of two grocery trips in the same amount of days, eliciting a strange look or two from other customers. Smiling at them, I grabbed a basket and headed to the produce section. I was just rounding the floor display of avocados when I saw him.
