JESSA
“I’m sorry,” Freya says for the tenth time this morning. “I really am. I guess I just assumed it would play out differently.”
“It was my fault,” I tell her. “You didn’t know just how bad it was. How bad he is.”
“He really just charmed the cops?” Freya asks in disbelief.
“Like freaking hypnosis,” I sigh. “He even got them to stay for coffee. They chatted about golf.”
“Jesus, Joseph, and Mary.”
We walk into Café Nervosa, past the line of impatient people waiting outside.
“Are you sure we can do this?” Freya asks, ducking her head to avoid the stink eye being thrown our way from the people in line.
“I used to wait tables here back in the day,” I tell her. “The owner is awesome. And one of the perks of being a good waitress here is you get a table whenever you want. Watch.”
I stride up to the hostess counter. When the girl working sees me, her face splits in a huge grin. “Look what the cat dragged in!” she screeches happily.
“Hey, Marianne,” I say as we hug. “I called this morning for a table.”
“Right this way,” she says with a smile. “I’ve placed you by the window, is that okay?”
“Perfect.”
Marianne situates both of us with drinks and the brunch menu. “Do you need a moment or are you ready to order?”
“We’ve got one more person coming,” I say. “So give us ten?”
“Sure thing.” She hurries off to help a needy couple waving for her attention.
Freya turns to me curiously. “Who’s the third wheel?”
“His name is Chris. He’s my best friend.”
“Oh?” Freya asks, looking immediately interested.
“I think the two of you will hit it off,” I say. “He’s been my closest friend for ages. In fact, he was the only one who warned me off Dane.”
“I like him already,” Freya says, ignoring the menu completely. “I take it he knows about your… problem?”
“He does,” I say. “But I haven’t really filled him in on the last couple of visits I’ve received from you-know-who.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’ll only worry,” I explain. “And I’ve put him through enough as it is.”
Freya leans in a little and lowers her voice. “How pissed was he once the cops left?”
“He was… annoyed,” I admit. “But I wouldn’t say he was pissed.”
“Huh,” she says, frowning. “Weird.”
Weirddoesn’t begin to cover what happened. When I think about the full extent of his “reaction,” I feel myself go beet red. I’m hoping Freya doesn’t notice. But she has already proven herself to be eagle-eyed.
“Why are you blushing?”
I shake my head. “I’m not.”