AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No,” she cut in. “This is your last romantic setup. Your matchmaking business is closed.” They both laughed a little as they walked towards the entrance, arm in arm. “Is Ben inside?”
“He’s still at work. He’s going to leave with Lauren shortly.” She looked down at the watch on her right wrist. “They’re probably almost here.”
They both got settled inside. They reserved a quiet booth in the corner, away from the hustle in the middle of the restaurant. A gold sconce hung from the dark beams across the ceiling, hovering over their glass table. Around them, quiet hums filled the air as extravagantly dressed couples and business soirees leaned over tables with deep chuckles in their throats and wine glasses in their hands. The sound of a subtle piano flowered in a far-off corner somewhere–the foundational layer of the ambiance in the massive hall.
They both relaxed in their seats. A waitress in a tight black dress was immediately by their side with a bottle of white wine to start off their meal. Julia took the offer graciously, smiling as she stated that the bottle could be left.
“Rough week?” chuckled Keegan, but she had no idea. Julia just nodded as she raised the glass to her lips once more. “It felt like it dragged on forever!” There was a slight pause, Julia unsure of what would spew from her lips if she opened them. “You’re not talking with Erin much anymore.” She didn’t mean to, but a groan escaped from her throat and Keegan’s eyebrows shot towards the gold crown molding covering every corner of the ceiling. “What?”
“We talked earlier this week,” she groaned. Keegan just studied her for a moment, her lips pulled into a swiggle. “It’s complicated.”
“You used to talk to me about complicated things,” she said softly.
She was right, and it stung the back of Julia’s cloudy eyes. They used to be an open book, words written together–binding reinforced with intertwined fingers that weather out every storm. It was always together.
“I’m sorry,” she sighed, reaching out to hold Keegan’s hand across the table–her fingers damp from the condensation on her cold glass. “You’re right. I’ve been a shitty friend lately.”
“Oh, stop–”
“No.” Julia shook her head. “Please, let me apologize. I’ve lost sight of what’s important, and I guess that includes our friendship. I didn’t mean to shut you out. I promise, I’ll do better.”
Keegan couldn’t hold back her smile, the way her cheeks pinkened just slightly.
“Thank you.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ben’s large frame was caught in her peripheral. His dark hair was parted and pulled back in waves on the sides. He lit up like the sun at the sight of his wife.
Keegan stood and accepted a kiss on the cheek, her fingers already straightening his jacket before he could even attempt to look Julia’s way. Once she pulled her hands away, Ben reached over and hugged Julia.
“It’s so good to see you, Ben.”
The smell of burnt oak and nighttime musk tickled her nose. His fitted black suit and cobalt tie matched Keegan’s dress.
“You too, Julia.” He stepped just slightly to the side to reveal his companion. “Thank you for joining us.”
Lauren was a taller woman, almost the same stature as Julia. Her white heels only accentuated her long legs. Her hair was long and dirty blonde, just a few shades darker than Julia’s, and it fell in pin straight lines over the front of her shoulders.
She wore a fitted white dress that halted mid-thigh, leaving little to the imagination. Her black belt only highlighted her waist, pulling Julia’s eyes so hard she had to focus on the glasses on her face instead.
While Keegan told her numerous stories about Lauren, she’d never actually met her. Her eyes were the deepest shade of brown, almost disappearing behind the reflection of her lenses. She was beautiful, striking in a way you wouldn’t expect–in a way Julia didn’t expect.
“I’m Julia.” She reached her hand out and touched the coldness of her long fingers. With each shake of their hands, her shoulders loosened a little more, settling underneath a screen to be let out another time.
“Lauren,” she greeted.
They filled in around the table. Lauren slid next to Julia, her legs crossed over the other and dangerously close to grazing hers. Short conversations swirled around them about work and home and the kids. Lauren’s voice, her laugh, softly liquified in Julia’s ears. It was soothing, but nothing compared to Erin’s.
Erin.
Here she was, actually taking her mind off things. Here she was with friends, enjoying herself while the clatter of dishes disappeared in the space of that room. But there was Erin in the back of her head–the only person she really wanted to be with, even then.
Lauren wasn’t anything like Keegan described. All of those stories about her having a cold heart–not even showing emotion as she fired someone or added another caseload to an already breaking intern–couldn’t possibly be about the woman sitting next to her.
“I could use a drink,” Ben stated after conversations died down.
“I’m heading to the bar to get another one myself.” Julia stood. “What would you like?”
