Chloe

I look at Gabi. She’s dressed impeccably tonight. Once a month we go on a ‘friend date.’

We always pull an idea out of a coffee cup that sits on Gabi’s desk. It’s filled with small pieces of paper that are labeled with different activities.

Two months ago we went bowling. Last month we saw a romantic comedy at the movies and tonight we’re out for dinner.

It’s Gabi’s treat and judging by the prices on the menu; I’m paying my assistant a very generous salary.

“What do you want to drink, Chloe?” Gabi eyes me over the top of the menu. “I’m going full-on Cosmo tonight.”

“I’m good with the water.” I look up at the server standing next to the table. He’s been back twice to get our drink order and each time Gabi has waved him away with a swat of her hand while she debated between a Cosmopolitan and a Martini.

“Water?” She rests the menu on the table. “I thought we’d share a toast. You have to get something stronger than water.”

I shake my head. “I need to be in court first thing tomorrow morning. You know how I get when I drink. I’ll feel groggy and I have to be on my A-game.”

“That’s a valid point.” She tosses me a curt nod before she looks at the server. “One Cosmo for me and my friend will nurse that glass of water.”

He smiles before he takes off toward the back of the restaurant.

“Did you get laid before work yesterday, Chloe?”

I drop the breadstick that I just picked up. Crumbs scatter all over the pristine white linen tablecloth and tumble onto the lap of my navy blue dress. “What? Why would you ask me that?”

“You were all…” Her voice trails as her hand waves in the air in front of me. “You were all flush and glowing when you got into the office and I didn’t have a chance to ask you about it before you left for your meeting with that new client.”

I tried to avoid eye contact with Gabi yesterday morning after I slept with Evan. She can read me like a book and the last thing I wanted was to waste the day away gossiping about my early morning rendezvous in a hotel room.

“I’m not dropping this.” She eyes up her freshly manicured fingernails. “I want to know. Were you late yesterday because you were in bed with some guy or not?”

I’m saved briefly when the server arrives with her drink. She takes a tentative sip before she gifts him with a brilliant smile. “This is the best Cosmo I’ve ever had.”

He winks as if he’s responsible for it. He picked it up from the female bartender before heading over here. “Maybe when I get off work I can buy you another one?”

She pretends to mull it over with a deep sigh. “What time were you thinking, handsome?”

“Midnight,” he answers quickly as he moves closer to her. “We can meet here, or I can grab your number and shoot you a text. Your choice.”

Gabi has a plan of her own. It’s a trick she taught me early in our friendship if I was semi-interested in a guy, but not entirely committed to going out with him. “Why don’t you give me your number so I can send you a text later tonight?”

He’s all over that idea. He starts calling out his digits before Gabi even has her phone in her hand. I watch in silence as she keys in the numbers before she looks up at him again. “I need your name.”

“Trevor,” he whispers under his breath. “What’s your name?”

Her gaze drops back to her phone. “I’m Gabriella and that’s Chloe.”

Naturally, he doesn’t look in my direction at all. I pick up the glass of water and take a drink while my stomach rumbles for more. I last ate hours ago and that was only an apple. I’m famished.

“It’s a pleasure meeting you, Gabriella.” His hand shoots out toward her. “I’m looking forward to seeing you later tonight.”

“Can you give us a minute to decide on dinner?” She ignores his offered hand along with everything he just said. “Come back around in five and we’ll be ready to order.”

He jumps into action and moves toward another table where a couple has just been seated.

“Are you going to text him?”

She pushes her phone toward me and I read what’s on the screen.

Trevor, the server: thin moustache.

“I thought you gave up taking notes on the men you meet?” I laugh as I hand her back her phone.

“I never know when I’ll run into a man I’ve already met.” She drops her phone in her bag. “Besides, I made him feel good and we’ll get excellent service.”

“He’ll be waiting with baited breath at midnight to hear from you.”

She enjoys a leisurely sip of her drink. “If I have enough of these, I might grab a disposable razor for that god-awful moustache and meet him after all.”

I look over the menu. “I’m going to have a steak. That’s okay, right?”

“I’m all for feeding the hungry.” She looks to where Trevor is standing near the bar before her gaze shifts back to me. “I’ll drop the subject of where you were yesterday morning if you tell me if it’s the same guy who arranged for the flower delivery.”

“It’s him,” I whisper under my breath. “That’s the guy.”

“I’m glad you met someone.” She reaches across the table to cover my hand with hers. “It’s good to see you having fun.”

“It is fun.” I pick up another breadstick and grasp it firmly in my palm. “It’s harmless fun and right now, that’s exactly what I need.”