“What makes you think that?”
“Because they know about the cake.”
Alex gasps. “No.”
“And some other things, too…”
“Stop it!”
Simon walks in through the door, holding his latte. He tosses his keys on the counter and says, “What are you ladies gossiping about?”
Alex turns to him. “Theyknow,” she says tensely.
Simon blinks at her in confusion. Then his eyes widen with what looks like fear. “What? That’s not possible. Nobody else was there that night. And we burned all the evidence!”
“Not that!” Alex throws her celery stick at him. “They know we’ve been taking stuff around here.”
“Oh, that?” Simon waves his hand, fanning away her concerns. “Nobody here suspects us for a second. You know I run this place like the navy.”
“Eric says they know about the cake.”
Simon gives me a look. “And how would you know that?”
“Christian told me,” I say.
Alex blinks at me. “Christian Chan? Did you see him again?”
I’ve been debating whether or not to tell them. “Yeah… He asked me to hang out the other night.”
“And you didn’t say anything?” Simon scolds me. “Who said you could keep secrets from us?”
“It happened a few days ago,” I say. “I wasn’t sure what you guys would think. I mean, given therumorabout him. You know, the one you haven’t told me.”
Simon rolls his eyes. “I told you, it’s probably not true. Especially knowing he askedyouon a date.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He shakes his head. “I said, forget it!”
Alex leans forward. “Tell us about your date.”
“I don’t know if it was adate,” I say, shrugging. “But it was a lot of fun. He took me to dinner at this restaurant near his place. Then we went on his friend’s boat around the river, which was pretty cool.”
Alex smiles. “A boat ride on the river? How romantic. Will you see him again?”
“I hope so,” I say.
“Have you texted him?” she asks.
“Yeah, but he hasn’t responded yet.”
Alex presses her lips together. “It’s only been a few days. I’m sure you’ll hear from him soon.”
“Unless he ghosted you,” Simon adds.
Alex grabs a carrot from the tray, throwing it at his arm. “No one needs your pessimism.”
“I’m just being realistic,” Simon says defensively. “And stop wasting the food!”
