“So if we do this,” Sophie said slowly, “what and where are we talking about? Just like dinner or drinks, right?”
Will groaned. “Don’t cave, Soph. This entire conversation feels like something out of a teen movie.”
Brynn gestured toward a group of leggy brunettes in the corner. “Speaking of teens, that little group of chlamydia carriers over there is making come-hither glances at you.”
Will turned to look at the girls in question before giving a slow smile. “Very nice,” he said with an appreciative second glance.
“Don’t let us keep you,” Brynn said with a wave. “In fact, since you’ve been such a good friend to Sophie all these years, I’ll even give you a five-minute start before calling the cops and letting them know that there’s a child predator buying appletinis for high school sophomores.”
“To be fair, I think they must at least be juniors,” Sophie mused. “Look at the one on the end; she has boobs.”
“Damn fine ones too,” Will said with a wink as he stood. “Much as I’m enjoying this riveting talk about that piece of granite you two call ‘lover’ and ‘boss,’ I’m sensing far more beneficial company over in that corner.”
“That’s disgusting,” Brynn muttered as Will grabbed his beer and wandered away.
“Oh, come on,” Sophie chided. “They’re not really teenagers. They can’t be much younger than us.”
Sophie frowned when Brynn didn’t respond. “Everything okay?” Sophie asked, noticing that her sister’s eyes had gone from murderous to sad.
“I guess,” Brynn said, not taking her eyes off her glass. “Just a little headache.”
Sophie eyed Brynn’s champagne. Alcohol surely wasn’t going to help a headache, but she didn’t say anything. Bossy, judgmental comments were Brynn’s territory, not Sophie’s.
“Are you sure you really want to date Gray?” Sophie asked, trying to keep her voice gentle.
Brynn nodded enthusiastically, but her eyes looked a little…numb.
Good lord, it’s like she’s a Stepford girlfriend, Sophie realized in horror.
“I think things could be great!” Brynn said woodenly. “Did he tell you I bought him a tie? He said he wore it today.”
Sophie’s heart twist
ed, but she pasted a smile on her face. Maybe things were more serious than she’d realized. Then again, Gray hadn’t mentioned it, and Sophie certainly hadn’t noticed anything special about today’s tie.
She seemed to vaguely recall monochromatic stripes that looked like every other tie he owned.
This is your sister, she reminded herself firmly. Be supportive.
“Totally. It was just Gray’s style,” she said, patting Brynn’s hand reassuringly.
“What was just my style?”
Sophie’s head snapped up as she stared at her boss in confusion. “What are you doing here?”
Both he and Sophie glanced at Brynn, who was suddenly extremely preoccupied with her phone.
“You didn’t tell them?” Gray asked, looking unbearably awkward.
Oh, Brynny, what did you do?
“No, no, of course we were expecting you!” Sophie lied, taking pity on him and patting the chair between herself and Brynn.
Gray sat, looking stiff as usual. Despite the fact that they were in a grubby little pub, he hadn’t bothered to change out of his suit and looked painfully out of place.
“Look, if the double-date thing is uncomfortable, we can call it off,” Gray said, glancing at Sophie.
“No, no. Not at all. It’ll be nice to get to know each other better,” she said lamely.