“Let’stalk fast before the guys get here,” Hollie says.
“Whatare we talking about?” I ask, all innocence.
She gives me TheLook. To be fair, Hollie has many looks; she has the mostexpressive face out of all of us, but this particular look says‘we’ve known each other our entire lives; don’t play dense withme’.
Evie laughs besideme, shaking her head. Knowing her, she’s probably glad not to be onthe receiving end of Hollie’s scrutiny.
It’s Saturdaymorning and Hollie, Evie, Louisa and I have gathered in B&HDiner, our home away from home. Rather than cramming into ourfavorite booth like we’ve been doing since our teens, we’ve pulledtogether two tables to accommodate the extra people joining us:Wesley and Leland.
Last night beforebed, I got a text from Leland telling me how much he’d enjoyedhanging out with me at FandomTown. Before I could respond, he’dsent another message:
I knowwe said we’d spend more time together soon, but I was thinking wecould make actual plans?
I was shocked; somuch of my dating experience has involved waiting days to hear fromthe person when they promise they’ll be in touch. As I pondered aresponse, I had to remind myself Leland and I aren’t really dating,so it wasn’t the same thing.
Since Evie hadalready invited Wesley to our weekly diner meet-up—and since I’dalready quickly filled the girls in on Leland’s and my fake datingscheme—I invited him to join us for breakfast thismorning.
“Okay,so we’ve established that Leland is still kind and funny, and hemust be smart to be helping his sister with her business,” Holliesays. “But allow me a moment to be shallow: is he still as hot ashe was back in high school?”
I lift my mug tomy lips and swallow a laugh along with my coffee. “He’s…” I trailoff, thinking about Leland and his dark eyes, bright smile, andtousled hair. There was a moment during our office picnic yesterdaywhen I had to tuck my hand under my butt to keep from reaching outto touch the soft-looking strands that had fallen over hisforehead. What can I say, I’ve always been a sucker for good hair.“He’s somehow even hotter than he was back then,” I finallysay.
“Iknewit!”Hollie hits the table, causing all of our mugs to rattle. Now Ireally do laugh. “You can just tell with some people, you know?Like Wesley. He’s even hotter now than he was back thentoo.”
Iwrinkle my nose, and the others giggle, even though they all murmurtheir agreement with Hollie’s assessment. While I can objectivelyadmit my brother is a good-looking guy, I don’t need to hear aboutit, especially considering I hear it enough from Evie.Andoften have afront-row seat to the pair of them going all googly-eyed for eachother.
“Thereare the guys now,” Evie says, inclining her chin toward the door.Her eyes brighten, flicking to Louisa. “Oh, and look who’s withthem.”
The words arebarely out of her mouth before Leland and Wesley approach thetable, followed by a friend of Hollie’s that the rest of us metrecently at Evie’s parents’ big Thanksgiving dinner. The blush onLouisa’s face reminds me how smitten she was with the hot Scot whenthey met that night.
“Lookwho we ran into in the parking lot,” Wesley says.
“Ladies, nice to see you all again.” Fergus smiles at each ofus, his gaze lingering on Louisa. “Lulu,” he adds quietly, hissmile softening.
“Fergus, what a nice surprise.” Louisa’s cheeks have flushed toan adorable deep pink now, and her voice has the slightest tremorto it.
My gaze flicks toHollie, who’s watching the exchange with clear interest. Eventhough the four of us were born within months of each other, Louisais the youngest and, in many ways, the baby of the group. Hermother died when we were fourteen, and her already-strict fatherbecame even more controlling in an attempt to shield Louisa fromthe dangers and heartaches of the world. Between her unconventionalupbringing and the severe anxiety she developed in her teens, we’reall protective of her in our own ways, even though we know she cantake care of herself.
I tune back in tohear Fergus saying he was stopping in for takeout before gettingsome work done at home.
“Whydon’t you join us?” Louisa blurts.
Fergus casts anassessing glance around at the rest of us. He likely doesn’t wantto intrude, but knowing Louisa like I do, it took monumentalcourage for her to issue the invitation in the first place. I don’tget a chance to echo her suggestion before Hollie chimesin.
“There’s lots of room,” she says, waving a hand to indicate thefour empty chairs.
Fergus’s smilewidens, making crinkles form around his moss-colored eyes. “Well,in that case…” He pulls out the chair beside Louisa and plops downbeside her.
As soon as theothers are seated, our most beloved waitress comes along. “Well, ifit isn’t my favorite people,” Bea says, her eyes sparkling as shetakes in Evie, Hollie, Louisa, Wesley, and me. “Always a pleasureto see the five of you together. And you’ve expanded your group, Isee.”
“Bea,this is Leland; he went to school with us, so you might recognizehim,” Evie says. “And this is Fergus. He’s new in town and has donesome work with Hollie at the community services center. Guys, thisis Bea. She and her husband Horatio own this place and have beenlike surrogate parents to all of us.”
Bea’s face glowswith pleasure at Evie’s words. It’s true; we’ve been coming hereour whole lives, first with our families, then on our own. So manylife events have been set to the background of diner noise, oldiesmusic, and Bea and Horatio’s loving and watchful eyes.
Aftergreetings are exchanged, Bea takes our orders and departs.Conversation picks up immediately, with most of it being questionsaimed at Leland and Fergus. I’m content to sit back and listen asFergus answers questions about Scotland and Leland describesFandomTown, talks about his sister with obvious pride, and detailstheir adventures in both living togetherandworking together.
Ourfood arrives and, as I dig into my eggs, Evie catches my gaze. Sheflicks her eyes in Leland’s direction before giving me a subtlethumbs up. She peers at him again before mouthing ‘he’s great’, towhich I smile and nod. Heisgreat.
None of us haveever brought dates or partners to our diner meet-ups. I never evenbrought Lars here, knowing he’d likely make derogatory commentsabout the outdated decor, the food, or a myriad of other things.Because of that, I’ve never given much thought to what it would belike to integrate new people into our group. If I had, I’m sure Iwould have expected it to be awkward, but both Leland and Fergusfeel like a natural fit.
