Faye turned, shoving her hands in the pockets of her jeans. Talia may have checked her out on arrival, and that gorgeous backside looked even better in jeans tonight. “Thank you. For inviting me over.”
“Any time.”
* * *
Faye settledback on Talia’s couch, eyeing the clock to the left of the shelving unit. Was it appropriate to hang around here, or should she thank Talia for dinner and leave? Faye hated this, the second guessing herself. Women rarely looked her way, or Faye mostly made herself seem unavailable, so having Talia’s undivided attention lately felt foreign to her. Welcome and pleasant, but one hundred percent foreign.
“Did you want dessert?”
Faye smiled as she glanced over the back of the couch. “No, thank you. I’m…trying to watch what I eat.”
Talia’s brows rose. “Why?”
“I’m not getting any younger. I try to look after myself but at times it kinda fails, so I’m trying to be better.”
Talia rounded the couch and dropped down in the middle. A little too close to Faye, but she wouldn’t complain. If she just ignored the fact that Talia’s thigh was touching hers, there would be no issues here. “I wouldn’t worry. You look great.”
“Thanks.” Faye flushed.
“So, how’s the book going? I noticed you were going a little wild with the red pen at the bistro the other day.”
“Yeah. Jay was a welcome distraction for all of ten minutes.”
Talia winced. “I don’t know what he said to you, he wouldn’t tell me, but he did say that you’re really nice.”
Faye appreciated that. She felt the same way about Talia’s best friend. It was a shame the same couldn’t be said for her own. “You don’t want to share him by any chance, do you?”
“Share him?”
Faye lifted a shoulder, focusing on her lap. “I’m sure you two confide in one another abouteverything.”
“We do.”
Talia’s bright smile melted Faye as she looked up to meet her eyes. “That’s something I’m definitely missing in life. A best friend who would lie in bed listening to me on the phone at three in the morning if I needed that.”
“Is that what you need? A conversation with someone in the middle of the night?”
“Sometimes, yes.”
Talia lay a gentle hand on Faye’s knee, sending a roar of desire through her. That feeling wasn’t a good sign. Not when it meant nothing to Talia. “You know you can talk to me if you need a friend, Faye.”
Faye smiled weakly. “Yeah, that wouldn’t work.”
“I…don’t understand.”
Of course she didn’t. Faye’s feelings were all alone in this. Talia would never bat an eyelid in Faye’s direction. “I just can’t rely on Phoebe. At one time, she was there at the drop of a hat, but I don’t know. I’m not sure how much longer we’ll remain friends. She has far too much to say lately.”
“She hates me.”
“That’s not true,” Faye lied. “How could anyone hate you?”
“Honestly? I think you’re the only woman whodoesn’thate me. And I still don’t understand why.”
“Because you’re great, Talia. I’ve loved getting to know you. We have more in common than I first realised.” Faye turned in her seat, focusing fully on Talia. “Maybe in another life I could have taken you for that drink, but I don’t know. I don’t think I’m your type, and I should have realised that before I stupidly asked you out. I could have saved myself from looking like an idiot by never asking and just having coffee with you as friends.”
“You know why I said no, Faye.”
Faye held up a hand. “I know. But it’s hard for me to understand how someone can be so willing to never be happy, to be in a relationship, because of one bad experience. I know you have your reasons, and I completely respect every last one of them, I just…wish things could have been different.” Faye propped her head up in her hand, sighing. “It’s been so long since I looked at another woman, and when I did…well.” Faye shook her head. “Never mind. It’s just the romance writer in me. Story of my life—or not.”