“Ah ha!” Molly pivoted to face the wide-eyed woman who seemed to realize she was suddenly in trouble. “Thereissomething, isn’t there? Tell me. Did you Carrie Underwood the shit out of your ex’s truck? Where are the bodies buried?”
A strand of hair fell into Claudia’s eyes as she shook her head. “No. I—”
“Ah! Ah! Ah! Friends don’t lie.” Molly’s eyes sparkled as she wagged her finger. Her journalistic bone had been tickled, and her bloodhound nose clearly smelled a story. “You can trust us.” She drew a cross over her heart with her index finger.
Claudia looked to Kenzie with uncertainty pinching her stunning features before hanging her head in her hands. “I’m in love with a hockey player.”
Kenzie and Molly both groaned.
“It’s worse than I thought.” Molly raised her eyes to the bathroom ceiling. “Does said hockey player love you back?”
Claudia shrugged and picked at invisible lint from her apron. “I think I’m friend zoned.”
Kenzie’s heart squeezed for the woman, but Molly raised a stop-sign hand. “Youthink? What do you mean, youthink? Haven’t you asked him?”
Claudia barked out a laugh. “No!”
Molly’s indignation made Kenzie laugh out loud. “Why the fuck not? And if you tell me you’re not sure he’s attracted to you I might have to slap you.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “Have you fucking seen yourself? I almost texted my boyfriend as soon as we got here to tell him I was going to hit on you.”
Claudia’s smile could have lit up the strip in Vegas. Molly was the best hype girl in the whole world. She had every woman’s back whether she knew them or not. But she also wasn’t wrong.
Kenzie shrugged. “I’m not gay, or bi, and even I’m attracted to you.”
Claudia’s blush was nothing short of adorable. “Thank you both for being so kind, but… it’s complicated.”
Molly’s eye roll was world class. “Isn’t it always complicated with a hockey player? Wait. Shit. Is it Justin?” Her jaw dropped open.
“No! Not Justin.”
“Phew. Okay then. Who is it?”
Claudia sucked in a breath, her eyes darting between both Kenzie and Molly. “Pinky swear it stays between us?”
Two nods.
“Okay.” Another audible intake of air.
The restroom door burst open, and an elderly woman with greying hair and deep wrinkles in her skin shuffled into the room. “Ahí estás! There you are. What is this I hear about a fight in my restaurant?”
