Lindsay laughed despite herself. “Keep trying.”
“Of course. What are friends for?”
Brad reappeared with another tray, this time full of savory pastries. From where Lindsay stood, it looked like mini-quiches and some kind of triangular thing wrapped in phyllo, maybe mini-spanakopita.
Which, of course, reminded Lindsay of the day they made a huge spanakopita at culinary school. Brad had decided to make his own phyllo, and they’d had an argument about why that was stupid, with Lindsay arguing that they could just buy some premade dough. It would have been easier to work with, since rolling phyllo out to the correct thinness was kind of a trial, and it fell apart after that anyway. But Brad had persisted and successfully made phyllo from scratch.
He was talented. Lindsay hated that. She hated that he was handsome and charming and talented and the sort of guy every woman wanted, and she’d had him, and she’d let him go.
She sighed.
“Those little spinach pastry things aredelicious,” said Evan.
“Traitor.”
“I can’t help it. I got stuck in a client meeting and had to skip dinner, so I ate like five from the first batch when I got here.”
Lindsay crossed her arms and wondered if Brad had made his own phyllo this time.
“Your profile of him for theForumwas surprisingly kind. I almost expected the accompanying photo to have devil horns drawn on it.”
“I didn’t want my boss to know I detest him. Also, it was good publicity for the café. And look at this turnout tonight. This is more crowded than these things usually are.”
“Part of it is that the room is smaller, since Lauren built that little hallway to the kitchen.”
“Sure, but there are, I don’t know, maybe five or ten more people than usual.”
Lindsay looked around. Lauren’s husband, Caleb, was a veterinarian at the clinic next door. He wore a bright-blue T-shirt with the clinic’s logo on it and seemed to be gamely answering the questions of a few prospective cat owners. Lauren and Paige were both circulating and talking to customers. Josh stood near the refreshments table, trying to make it not look like he was wolfing down mini-quiches. She and Evan sipped their drinks.
“Is Will coming?” Lindsay asked.
“No. One of his authors is doing a book talk at that indie bookstore in SoHo. He felt he had to be there, and also he’s worried if he sets foot in the café that Lauren will make him adopt a cat. And, well, he’s not wrong.”
“True.”
Evan sighed. “I like him a lot, but I don’t know.”
“He’s not the One?”
Evan shrugged. “Will has no discernible flaws. He’s cute. He has a steady job he’s good at. He has passions and hobbies. The sex is…fine. But, I don’t know. He doesn’t exactly light me on fire.”
“So break up.”
“I’m trying this thing where I don’t just dismiss guys out of hand for stupid reasons, because I don’t want to be that guy who turns down a good thing because I don’t like the flippy thing his hair does or whatever.”
“That’s fair.” Lindsay didn’t have much of a leg to stand on here because it wasn’t like anyone she’d dated since Brad had lasted long. She was certain she’d dumped more than one guy because she didn’t like his teeth or thought he had a weird laugh or something equally superficial.
“So I’m giving Will a shot. Plus, he’s gotten us in to a couple of really amazing restaurants because the chefs are among his authors, and I’ve been very well fed recently.”
“Well, that’s something.”
They sipped their cocktails in silence for a moment as Evan rocked on his heels. “Also, not for nothing, but if someonedoeslight you on fire, it might be worth it to see what he has to say.”
“Subtle.” Because of course Evan was talking about Brad. Who still did completely light Lindsay on fire. He drew her eyes right to him as he smiled and handed people cupcakes. She already knew what going to bed with him was like, and it was awesome. But… She just couldn’t get that image of him kissing Phoebe out of her mind.
“I’m just saying,” said Evan.
“Why are you guys all taking his side?”
