Piling into the old beige booth at the back of the diner, we wait for Cassandra to arrive before we order anything.
"So, you hired her, huh?"
"She needed a job, and we needed someone to fill the position. She was the right fit, and I wanted to help out a friend."
"Make sure it stays that way, Wingrove."
Her voice remains firm, reminding me for what feels like the hundredth time.
"Just friends," I say, maintaining innocence.
Hearing the bell above the door chime, I glance up, only to do a double take as I notice Cassandra walking toward us with a bright smile spread right across her face. My eyes wander down her petite body, beginning at the messy bun on top of her head. Her eyelashes, looking extra thick and making her hazel eyes pop and sparkle under the terribly old lights of the diner, and her smooth, naturally pink lips that I don’t let myself linger on for too long.
Just friends.
Ripping my attention from her lips, I take in the rest of her outfit.
She’s paired her black knitted sweater with tight blue jeans and black combat boots. Bea’s snort breaks my concentration, and I fling my eyes to my laughing best friend beside me, not bothering to hide her amusement.
"What the fuck are you laughing at?" I ask as I flick her bicep with my finger that’s hidden under my folded arm.
"What did I miss?" Cassandra asks as she sits down, placing her phone, keys, and wallet down on the table. Her usual chirpy self is none the wiser that Bea has created some sort of inside joke with herself.
There used to be four of us sitting in these booths, eating fries and chasing them with milkshakes, but I think I speak for everyone at this table when I say that I’m glad four has officially become three.
"You mean, you guys didn’t plan this?" Bea’s body shakes as laughter continues, pointing her finger back and forth between Cassandra and me.
"Plan what?" I ask, just as confused as I was a minute ago, but Cassandra is giggling as she sits across from us, picking up her menu.
"Stand up, both of you," Bea insists, taking deep breaths to steady her laughter while Cassandra does as she’s told, no questions asked.
Glaring at my best friend, I groan while I stand, walking toward Cassandra until we’re side by side, and that’s when I notice what Bea found so comical.
It’s happened again.
Looking down at my outfit and back at Cassandra’s, I wish I opted for my usual attire of sweats and a hooded sweater.
Instead, I chose to not look like a slob and wore a black jumper, blue jeans, and black combat boots, identical to the girl standing beside me.
You’d think we’d coordinated this, but nope.
It seems some things don’t ever change.
"Twins!" Cassandra exclaims with a giggle, looking at us both up and down, and God damnit if my chest doesn’t squeeze at the flashback of this happening in my mom’s old truck, fourteen years ago.
"You guys are like one of those lame couples who plan to match whenever they leave the house." Bea pretends to gag as she opens up the menu, even though she orders exactly the same thing weekly.
The waitress, Luna, takes our order, where Bea orders a salted caramel shake with fries for the three of us to share, Cassandra orders a chocolate shake and I order an Oreo one.
The next hour flies by so quickly, it’s easy to forget that it’s been years since we’ve done this. We’ve laughed so much my cheeks are on fire, tears streaming down both girls’ cheeks.
"Do you guys remember the party at Matty Maxwell’s farm?" Cassandra asks as we reminisce about high school, while she dips her final fry into her shake.
"I was the designated driver while you guys got wasted. Of course, I remember." I scoff, pretending to be annoyed at the memory.
"Do you remember much from that night?" Bea asks Cassandra, and I kick her foot under the table, causing her to wince slightly as she smirks for only me to see.
I know exactly where she’s going with this.
