“Um, Adria?” Phoebe smirked, looking between Talia and Faye. “From the—”
“No. The name is Talia. Nice to meet you.” She extended her hand, but Phoebe didn’t take it. Faye noted how her best friend stared through her instead. “Have a nice night, ladies.” Talia didn’t hang around for a response. She rushed off in the direction of the bathroom, leaving a confused Faye standing in the middle of the wine bar.
“Huh.” Phoebe turned her attention to Faye. “Weird. I could have sworn she was someone else.”
“Well, whoever she is, she doesn’t want to date me.” Faye flopped back down into her seat, sighing. “But she’s absolutely gorgeous.”
“Can you give me a minute? Need to use the loo.”
Faye lifted a shoulder, pushing her empty glass away. “Sure. Pick up another bottle on the way back.”
* * *
Talia bracedher hands against the sink in the bathroom, her head spinning. Phoebe had been close to blowing everything, but what did it matter? Talia knew better than to hide who she was. Because eventually, italwayscame back to bite her in the arse.
She pushed off the sink, straightening herself out in the mirror. She was proud of who she was, she was confident and dedicated to everything she did, so why did Faye make her wobble with a mere glance? Why, if she didn’t care what people thought of her, did she feel that so-called confidence wavering?
Because Faye seemed disgusted by the fact she’d been to a strip club. That in turn meant she was probably disgusted by Talia’s choice to be there. And in Talia’s mind, Faye’s approval mattered. She couldn’t fathom why Faye had that effect on her, nor did she like it, but it was true. What Faye thoughtdidmatter. Her blue eyes had dimmed as they spoke about it, and if Talia thought she’d gauged it right, she could have sworn Faye shuddered.
The bathroom door opened, and Phoebe stopped behind her. They watched one another through the mirror.
“Can I help you?” Talia spoke first. She never had done well with silence.
“Youarewho I think you are, right?”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“Adria.”
Talia washed her hands at the sink, avoiding eye contact as she cleared her throat. “You know quite well who I am. You’ve been booking me for friends and yourself for weeks now.”
“And why are you here?” Phoebe stood with her arms folded, a brow lifted.
“I wasn’t aware that I shouldn’t be here. I’m winding down. The same as everyone else.”
“You’re not trying to pursue something with Faye, are you?” A slight scoff followed, offending Talia deeply. “I mean,youand her?”
“You seem concerned by the thought of that.”
Phoebe snorted. “I am.”
After Talia dried her hands and disposed of the paper towels, she stepped closer to Phoebe. “I’m sure Faye is capable of making her own decisions, but don’t worry. I turned her down.”
“Turned her down? There’s no chance she’d date someone like you.”
Someone like me. “She doesn’t know who I am, okay?”
“You were draped all over her last weekend. Of course she knows who you are.”
“Trust me,” Talia said, holding up a hand. “She doesn’t. She thinks I’m just a waitress at the bistro. We had coffee together on Monday, and she was none the wiser.”
“So, you’re trying to deceive her?” Phoebe looked Talia up and down, a snarl on her lips.
Anyone else, and Talia would have reached forward and throttled them, but Phoebe was of no importance to her life. She didn’t know why she was even answering to this woman. It was none of Phoebe’s business. Best friend or not.
“Are you worried I’m going to get my dirty little hands on her?”
“That’sexactlywhat I’m worried about. She’s a successful woman. The last thing she needs is for people to find out she’s fucking a stripper.”