Totally worth it.
“I have been enjoying my mornings outside too much to think about coffee,” I said, hoping she bought the lie.
“Are you going to have some now?I can make less.I don’t want you to feel like you have to drink it.”
I shook my head and poured myself a mug, emptying the pot.“I might drink a little less going forward, but I won’t give it up completely.”
“Okay.If you’re sure.”
I nodded, taking a sip as she grabbed her lunch from the fridge and an apple.
“I’m excited about tonight,” she said.“You’re going to love Pour Standards.I’m going to try to leave work early so we can get there before it gets too busy.There’s a bar on the top floor, but we can have dinner before we go to the rooftop.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Ashlyn waved and hurried out the door, leaving me to my guilt about not telling her about Josh.Again.
“Wow,”I breathed as we walked into Pour Standards.
“Right?”Ashlyn gushed.“I love it here.It’s my favorite place to come when I need to celebrate or treat myself.”
“And which are we doing tonight?”Sage asked from Ashlyn’s other side.
“Both,” Ashlyn said.She stepped forward to the hostess stand.
“Welcome to Pour Standards.How many tonight?”the hostess asked.
“Four,” Ashlyn said.
“I’m here, I’m here!”a woman said from behind us.
I turned with Ashlyn and Sage.They hugged Zuri, our fourth for the night.Zuri was a local historian and knew everything there was to know about Amethyst Bay, according to Ashlyn.Zuri smiled warmly at me and hugged me after Ashlyn and Sage.
“I’m so happy to meet you, Reegan.I’ve heard so much about you.”Zuri smelled like sunshine and grass, and I liked her immediately.
“Same.It’s so nice to meet you, Zuri.”She grabbed my hand and tucked it in her arm to walk together as we followed the others to our table.
“Thank you for being there for Ash the last few weeks.Summer is crazy around here, and I have not been available anywhere near as much as I’d like,” Zuri said softly.“I hate that she got so wrapped up in that jerk.”
“Me, too,” I told her, loving that Ashlyn had friends in Amethyst Bay who loved her as much as I did.
“My treat tonight,” Ashlyn said as we all took seats.
“Not a chance,” Sage said.
“I was going to treat everyone,” Zuri argued.
“I’m overruling all of you,” I said, meeting the gaze of our server.“I’m paying for everything tonight.”
“Then I’m buying drinks upstairs,” Zuri insisted.“No more arguments.”
I nodded at her.She winked back, and I knew Zuri was not someone people fought often.She had a quiet strength and a calm exterior.She was the perfect balance of chill and fierce.
“You guys are amazing,” Ashlyn said.
“My treat next time,” Sage said.
“You treat us all the time,” Zuri argued.“Let me pay for once.Without an argument.”
