Page 8 of Omega’s Oath

Mickie turned to her. “You hear where Hawk is taking Fee for their honeymoon?”

Rose shook her head; their friend had kept that piece of knowledge to himself no matter how much they had tried to wheedle it out of him. “No.”

“Venice followed by Paris and on to Ireland. I’m so jealous.”

Rose’s mouth opened in an O. “Wow. Lucky Fee but after everything they went through, they deserve this.”

Rose thought she heard Harlan mutter something and glanced across to see him scrolling through his phone looking bored. She suddenly felt like she was being rude, and Mickie seemed to cotton on too.

“We’ll leave you to your lunch. Nice to meet you, Harlan.”

He looked up and nodded but didn’t seem to want to make small talk.

Cruz and Mickie walked over to their own table across the restaurant.

“Sorry about that.”

Harlan placed his phone away and smiled. “No problem. Let me get the check and I’ll walk you to your car.”

Rose agreed but the mood had changed, and she felt terrible for making him feel left out. She’d forgotten how sensitive he could be and how easily his feelings were hurt. By the time she got home she had a headache, so she sent a text to Aide and asked for a rain check. He’d been worried but accepted her word, which she appreciated.

Harlan had said he’d be in town for a few months and would like to get together again. Rose had agreed but she wasn’t sure if she’d have time with the baby coming and work. Plus, she wasn’t sure she had the energy for a friendship that was such hard work. It made her feel like a bitch, but she didn’t have time for friendships where she had to tiptoe around and one thing about today had reminded her how Harlan, as much as he was a good guy, was high maintenance.

Keeping him on the periphery was best and she’d do her best to do just that. She needed people like her girls and Aide, who made everything feel so comfortable and relaxed, almost effortless. Not a friend who she had to walk on eggshells around.