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The more I learn about Evie, the more I respect what she’s accomplished.
The more I’m filled with a desire to be with her every waking moment. Something I’ve never, ever, felt. Not with any of my past relationships, if my string of girlfriends can even be called that. The longest I’ve ever dated anyone was in my mid-twenties, and even that was for less than six months. Now here I am, two years into my thirties, consumed by a woman who I should not want so badly.
If we start this, when it’s over, it will only make things worse. Neither of us plan to go anywhere. Which means we’ll be rivals, and quasi colleagues, in this town for a long, long time. But I honestly don’t give a shit about that right now.
“Hey, I saw your car out front and . . .”
We look toward the door, where Zara’s red hair shines even brighter with the waning sun hitting it just right. She walks inside, clearly confused.
“Oh my God, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”
Evie waves her over, unfortunately.
“No, it’s fine. Come on in, Zara.”
Hesitating, she finally walks toward us as I reluctantly sit back onto my stool.
“Hey, Tris.” She sits down next to me. “Well, this is ironic.”
“How so? Can I get you a drink?” Evie asks.
She glances at ours. “What are you guys having?”
Without answering, Evie starts to make her one. She clearly knows how to host—Zara’s reluctancy to sit with us, likely worried she’s interrupting, is clear. But Evie puts her right at ease.
“It’s a surprise,” she says, pulling a bottle from the shelf.
“I don’t usually drink on a Monday night.”
Evie and I exchange looks and both laugh at the same time.
“What?” Zara takes the drink Evie slides toward her.
“We just . . . in the restaurant business, this is our night to shine. You’re closed tomorrow too, yeah?” Evie asks me.
“Monday and Tuesday,” I answer.
“That makes sense,” Zara says. “So this is like your weekend?”
“Exactly.”
She lifts her glass. “Then bottoms up.”
We drink, and I remember what Zara said when she sat down.
“So what’s ironic?”
Although her husband is a good friend of mine, I see him more often, on Thursdays. I’ve gotten to know Zara a bit but can’t say we’re close. I like her, though. Cole’s a lucky guy.
Which brings my attention to Evie. Any guy would be lucky to be with her too.
“Just that I popped in to talk to Evie about, well, you. And here you are.”
“I have a feeling I know what this is about,” Evie says. “And yes, I still want to kill you.”
Zara doesn’t seem overly concerned about her friend’s threat.
“But we’ve worked it out,” Evie says, referring to our arrangement. “So no, you don’t have to wave off Lee.”
