She lowered my hand to the table and placed hers on top. “I am, for the most part. Never thought I’d say I miss Ireland’s climate, but the summers are brutal enough in LA that I do.”
Finn lightly pounded his fist on the table. “No talking about the weather. Surely four beautiful, intelligent people such as us can think of something more stimulating than the difference between California and Ireland summers.” He turned to Bea. “Tell me what it’s like to work for Lizzy.”
From his wince, he’d been kicked under the table. Elizabeth casually sipped from her grapefruit martini and arched a brow at him. He rolled his hand in a mock bow. She hated being called Lizzy.
Bea idolized Elizabeth, that much was obvious. I could see Finn barely suppressing an eye roll. Elizabeth wasn’t his favorite person. Then again, she’d left me at the lowest point in my life, and Finn had been the one to witness the aftermath. If he held a grudge against her, I suppose he had damn good reason. I simply didn’t have it in me to hate her. She’d wanted out badly enough to leave when I couldn’t even walk on my own, and I’d let her go.
“We’re going to Paris next month. Half for work and half for fun. There’s a band we found on TikTok we’re both dying to see.” Bea bit her full bottom lip and clasped her fidgeting hands on the table. “Elizabeth is going to take me shopping at her favorite consignment shop and show me all the places she loves.”
Subject found, the three of them took it and ran with it while I idly scanned the restaurant. Even though I wasn’t working, I never truly let myself relax in public. I wasn’t on edge, but I was aware of my surroundings, including the people.
La Nostalgiehad no empty tables. Beautiful, well-dressed people occupied every seat. My gaze swept past a table against the opposite bank of windows. Something familiar about one of the women occupying the side facing my direction made me pause.
Brunette curls. Sweet, round face with so many freckles, I could see them in the dim lighting. Curvy figure that was obvious even when seated. I’d barged into her apartment without invitation just two weeks ago. Claire Cantrell.
If she was here, that meant—
How had I not felt Iris’s eyes on me? She was seated catty corner from Claire, and her head was turned as she stared in my direction. As soon as our gazes met, her head snapped forward, giving me her perfect profile.
I turned over my phone, finding Matt had sent me a message thirty minutes ago. It must have come in at the same time Elizabeth and Bea had arrived.
Matt:Change of plans. Mr. Cantrell got reservations for a place calledLa Nostalgie. We’re headed there now. Will text when we arrive.
Fifteen minutes later, he sent another.
Matt:Hey, boss. Ms. Adler, Mrs. Cantrell, and Ms. Hawkins are seated. I guess I don’t need to tell you that since you’re here too. Hope I’m not interrupting your date. Sorry!
Elizabeth reached over and scratched the back of my neck. “Your hair’s getting a tiny bit shaggy, Ro. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it that way.”
I glanced at Finn. He’d frozen in place, sliding his eyes to meet mine. I knew what he was thinking: the time I’d barely left the house for months and sure as hell hadn’t gotten my hair cut then. I had looked like a damn hippie by the time I’d gotten to a barber.
But we didn’t talk about that. If Elizabeth had wanted to know how I fared in those dark as hell days after she moved herself to LA, she would have asked. She never had. It was easier for her not to know and for me not to have to relive it.
“I’m due for a cut. Don’t worry, I’m not turning into one of the emo lads your label signs.” She continued to trace her fingertip along where my hair met my neck. “What’re you doing, Liz?”
Her palm flatted, and her lips tipped into a hint of a smile. “Just saying hi.”
I took her hand in mine and set it on the table. “Not like that.” I kept my voice low, quiet, but firm. It’d be easy to slip into a night in bed with her. It might be nice. But when I closed a chapter, I never went back to reread.
She poked out her bottom lip. “All work and no play has made you a very dull boy.”
Finn cleared his throat. “I think maybe you’ve been playingtoomuch, Liz.”
“Oh, Finn.” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t you get tired of being a perpetual child?”
His expression hardened. “Says the woman who ran away to an entirely different country to live out a bollix fairy tale. How’d that work out for you?”
She lifted her chin. “It worked pretty damn well. I might not have been exactly what I’d planned, but I don’t regret leaving Ireland. Not for one second.”
They bickered like they always did when they were within earshot of each other. Bea and I exchanged wry smiles. She’d probably heard all about me and Finn. Part of me wondered what Elizabeth’s version of our history was. The bigger part of me didn’t want to know at all.
I picked up my phone to check for messages, but there were none, so I tapped one out.
Me:How’s your dinner?
Then I watched. Waited. She took her time slipping her phone from a small clutch. Even longer to reply.
Iris:It’s rude to text when you’re on a date. If you need something, text Matt. He’s my man tonight.
Me:Matt’s your guard. Nothing more.
From across the room, her eyes flicked to mine. Her lips curled in a slow, unreadable smile.
Iris:Like the way you’re just my guard? Same thing?
My phone was snatched from my hand. Elizabeth passed it to Bea, who held it like she’d just been handed an active nuclear bomb. I peered back at Iris, but she’d already turned away, her phone face down on the table.
I could have argued, but I chose not to fight this battle. As much as I wanted to remind Iris Matt wasn’t her man and never would be, this wasn’t the time.
That would come later.