His face tells me that he thinks I'm full of crap, but I ignore it and hope that the waitress comes down with our food and soon.
"What about you Lacey, do you have a mystery guy?" He asks her, his voice deep and soothing, he's very forward with his questioning.
"Nope, don't have time.” She flashes him a quick smile. “What about you, Barney?” Her voice husky. “Do you have a lady, mysterious or otherwise?" She asks looking up through her lashes. She’s good, she managed to come back with her own invasive questions.
I just shake my head at these two. I feel as though I'm intruding. Like I'm a third wheel. Every look they give each other is scorching hot.
"There's no specific lady in my life if that's what you're asking." Wow, he's a jerk, there was no need to answer it like that.
Lacey's eyes flash with disappointment, he's blown it with her. "I wonder how much longer our lunch is going to be." She's trying to put on a brave face, I can hear the strain in her voice.
"Hungry again?" I ask her teasingly, and I watch as her body relaxes a bit. "We should have gone to Taco Bell or McDonalds, somewhere quick."
She sighs, "Hell, they've not even brought our drinks down to us yet."
I glance at Barney, he's checking his phone, but his jaw is clenched, the muscles in his face tight. He knows he fucked up. It's his own damn fault. He really should think before he speaks.
My phone vibrates against the table, and I pick it up to see it's a text message from Sarah. "She sent the email." I inform Lacey, "God, I hope he responds."
She slumps back against the booth, "Now it's a waiting game. God, I'm so nervous for her."
"For who?" Barney chimes in.
"Our friend," I reply not really paying attention as I type out a message to send back to her.
"What happened?" He's genuinely curious.
I glance at Lacey. It's up to her if she wants to tell him. I would, but he's hurt Lace with a few stupid words.
"She had a one night stand with a guy she liked, he was in an off and on relationship." She shakes her head, "Long story short, she got pregnant and she called him. He had his girlfriend call her back and tell her that he didn't want the baby and he didn't want her." Her words clipped, she's still mad that Jagger did that too Sarah.
"She wanted him to know that he has a daughter, that if and when he wants to know Allie, that he can call and she'll set it up. That was the email she sent today." I finish, and it hurts to hear what Sarah went through, knowing that he could reject them yet again makes me want to cry.
"Wow, sounds like your friend is well shot of him. Anyone who gets their girlfriend to end things is an asshole. He made that baby, he should man up and take responsibility." He glances at both mine and Lacey's shocked faces, "What?"
I shrug, "I guess, we never really got a man's perspective on it before. We hate Jagger, what he did, fuck he's an asshole. I really hope I don't meet him while I'm here. I won't be held responsible for what I may do."
He nods, "That he is, where's your girl now?"
"New York, she's working in fashion," Lacey says proudly.
He frowns, "Are you from San Fran?" He asks, looking at me with a weird expression.
I shake my head, "No, I'm from Oakland, as is Sarah."
His eyes flash with something that resembles anger, "You said the man's name is Jagger? Where did your friend meet him?"
Now I'm confused. "Synergy."
He nods, "Great club."
My cheeks flame as I think back to the only night I was in it, fuck, it was a great night. "Yeah, it is." Movement in my peripheral vision has me glancing at the approaching waitress. "Finally," I mumble, we've still got to find dresses yet.
We walk into Mona Lora’s Boutique, I glance back at Barney, while we were eating he was really quiet and furiously texting on his phone. Now he’s on his cell talking in a hushed tone. When he catches me watching him, he glares at me and turns around. I shake my head and continue into the store. Twenty minutes later and both Lacey and I have found our dresses.
“You’ll be cleared of duty soon,” Lacey tells him.
“Yep.” He clips, anger pulsating from him.