Page 117 of Secrets on Ice

“Yes,” Collette says, twisting her rings. “I know you've just launched, and you probably have a whole plan, and I've just ambushed you in front of everyone …”

“Yes, we would love to. We loved that house, and we loved Maine. We had so many ideas when we were there for your wedding,” I add.

“You did?”

I nod. “Yes. This is a dream,” I tell her.

“We loved your home,” Cassidy says.

Collette smiles and pulls me into a hug, and then Cassidy's in it, too, and the whole table is cheering.

“Thank you. I didn’t want to overwhelm you and wanted to wait till you were settled in, but seeing this launch, you guys are the perfect fit. I trust you both so much.”

I tear up at her kind words. “We won’t let you down.”

“We’ve been working on Nelly’s apartment. Fish can chat to him to see how we work,” Cassidy tells her.

“That’s awesome. I’ll let him know,” Collette says.

“Guess you girls are going to need an office sooner or later,” Harper says.

“We do, but we can’t afford one yet. The guest bedroom is now our mini office,” I tell Harper.

She shakes her head. “Marlowe, we’ve got a spare office in the building, haven’t we?”

“Yeah, I think so,” Marlowe answers her.

“Next week, let’s catch up. I have a spare office in my building. You guys can have it to work out of,” Harper says.

Oh wow, that is so generous. “We can’t afford much,” I tell her.

Harper looks at me. “Good, because it’s free. No one is using it. I think it’s just storage, so you guys might as well use it. I want an unlimited supply of this throw for my home as payment.”

“You’ve got a deal,” Cassidy says.

“Perfect. Marlowe, remind me to set that up, my brain doesn’t work anymore,” she grumbles.

Marlowe types in her phone.

I can’t believe she is just letting us use one of her offices, that is so generous of her.

The food comes up, the champagne keeps coming, and the night gets loose and warm. Somewhere between courses Violetta groans and turns her phone around to Evelina. “Look at this one. Look at what he's sent me.”

Evelina takes one look and howls. “No, no, delete him.”

“What is it?” Collette leans over. “Oh my god, it’s a dick pic.”

“That's his opening message. That's the first thing he said to me.” Violetta groans.

The phone goes around the table, and every woman who sees it makes the same noise. Then Evelina shows us hers, and suddenly we're all crowded in looking at the state of the men of New York.

“I’m so happy I’m married and knocked up. The single scene in New York is brutal.” Harper sighs.

“Me too.” Issy laughs.

“Yeah, well, our husbands turned out to be gay, so being married won’t always save you,” Cassidy adds, and everyone stills.

“Guys, I can laugh about it,” she reassures everyone, and they laugh along.