Her mouth curves. “I like that those are my only two options.”
The waiter appears, sliding in with practiced timing. We order—dumplings, noodles to share, something I’ve had before and something she hasn’t—and then he’s gone again just as quickly, leaving a small pot of jasmine tea between us.
She reaches for it first, pouring like she’s done this a hundred times before. Steam curls up between us, softening the space.
“Shame you’re not going to be there Saturday,” she says, handing me a cup before wrapping her hands around her own. “I was going to do charms with the girls this week.”
“Charms?” I glance up.
“Yeah.” Her eyes light a little, like they always do when she talks about jewelry or design. “I’ve got a whole selection. Little icons, basically. I was going to have them each pick one for someone else. See what they choose.”
“Hannah?”
She points at me. “Exactly.”
I shake my head, smiling into my tea.
“I think it’ll be interesting,” she says as she lowers her cup slightly. “So, you’re cutting out early. Does Emma know?”
I busy myself with turning my cup slightly against the table. “Haven’t told her yet.”
Her brows lift.
“She’ll be okay with it.”
Vivian shoots me a playful look. “You sure about that?”
I let out a breath, rubbing the back of my neck. If I’m going to open up and really lean into honesty, and be myself, I feel like it’s time. Time to reveal the hidden parts.
“I—” I stop, recalibrate. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something.”
Her expression shifts immediately.
“Oh boy,” she says lightly, her expression morphing into something that’s not alarm, more like curiosity. “That sounds serious.”
“It’s not serious.” I shake my head. “Not like that.”
She waits while I take a minute to gather my thoughts, trying to line up what I want to say to her in a way that makes sense.
“I just…I feel like where we’re at right now—we’re friends, right?”
She blinks at me, then nods slowly. “Yeah. I mean, we’ve kind of been building to that.”
“In a backwards way, right? Since we kissed…”
Her mouth twitches. “Yes, we kissed. A few times now.”
“Right.” I nod once, heat flushing to my cheeks. What I wouldn't give to have my lips slide across hers right now, but I digress. “But even with that…I think there has to be a foundation there. Like, actual friendship.”
“Without a doubt.” She studies me for a second, then tips her head. “I feel like you’re getting a little stuck in the details right now. What are you trying to tell me?”
I open my mouth, lining everything up I want to say, when the waiter reappears with our food, setting plates down between us, the moment folding in on itself before I can catch it.
We both shift automatically, thanking him, adjusting chopsticks, making space. It buys me a second. Maybe two.
“Ty,” she says once he’s gone. “I feel like you really want to tell me something.”
I exhale slowly.
