Page 49 of Time To Learn

The silence seems deafening as Trish glares atme.

“Who are you, and what have you done with my old friend Laura?”

I narrow my eyes ather.

“She died a long time ago, Trish, and she’s not comingback.”

Her eyes soften as she turns to me, and I stiffen a little as she hugsme.

“No, she’s not dead,” she whispers in my ear. My eyes tear up at the loving tone of her voice. “She’s just been hibernating for a while, asleep and safe in a cocoon. But now, it’s time she woke up and began to breathe, live, and grab the world by its balls again.”

I snort at the crass words. Oddly enough, they make it easier to suppress the urge tocry.

“You’re bonkers,” I mumble as she releasesme.

She winks atme.

“I know. But guesswhat?”

Recognition fills me as the familiar words echo in mymind.

“All the best people are,” we whisper together.

I shake my head at her when she leans forward, our foreheads touching briefly. Then I back away fromher.

“Even so, I’m not going to start anything up with a man like Kristian. It’s bound to be a complete and utter disaster,” I tell her as we turn back to the mirror.

“If you say so, my dear,” she muses. “But hear me—if that man keeps undressing you with his eyes like hedoes?”

“He promised he won’t,” I try to reassure her. “Plus, have you looked at him? He’s young, hot, and cute. Whereas I’m old, frumpy, andugly.”

“You must be blind,” she scoffs. “First of all, you’re absolutely gorgeous—I’d kill for your cheekbones. Secondly, I’m sure he’ll wear you down. Something tells me he’s quite adept at turning ladies’ knickers onfire.”

I don’t have a clever comeback for that one. I know she’s right.

“Okay, let’s go back outside so they don’t think we’ve deserted them.” Trish zips her clutch and gives her reflection akiss.

“Okay,” I mumble and followher.

Excitement mingled with trepidation fills me as we leave the ladies’ room. The minute my eyes land on Kristian’s, I swallow hard. His gaze is warm, soft, and I have a feeling this friendship thing between us is going to go down the drain realfast.

Crap.

* * *

I shouldn’t be drinking so much.I really shouldn’t.

But Trish was right. Getting out and about, having a laugh with friends, is just what I needed.

Even so, I should probably go easy on the gin & tonic’s.

“Want another?” Trish asks as she gets up from herseat.

I scowl ather.

“What?” she laughs. “I’m the designated driver, remember?”

The slight buzz in my head does feel verynice.