“Then I’m good.” The server nods, walkingaway.
“Did you know Cole and the others werecoming here?” I look at Laura questioningly. I would have thought she’d want todo something, just the two of us, without Cole and the others hovering over us.It’s bad enough I still have to have security follow me around. But it’s notlike they’re making us sit with them.
“No, I did not. And it pisses me off. Ithink we need to get up and leave,” Laura hisses. “Cole suggested this place,but I didn’t knowtheywere coming here.”
“Oh well, um—here.” I get up and scootnext to Laura on her side of the booth. “Now I can’t see them and, moreimportantly, they can’t see us.” I pull my drink to me and clink it withLaura’s. “Bottoms up bestie.” I take a sip.
Laura gives me a wicked smile. “You alwayskeep Cole guessing, don’t you?”
“Yep. And most of the time, it’s notintentional. But I’m learning.”
“I’ll drink to that.” And she clinks myglass, taking another drink through her straw. “Uh—it’s too fruity.”
My phone beeps with a text from Cole:Money’son its way. Why did you move?I smile.
“From Cole?”
“Yes. He says my money from the bet is onits way, and he wants to know why I moved.”
“Tell him it was to make out with me.”Laura wags her eyebrows at me.
“Ew gross.” I slap her arm.
He texts again:I won’t ask again.
“Oh, good grief.” I roll my eyes at thetext.
“What?” Laura looks at my phone. “Andwhat does that mean?”
“It means he’s serious and wants me toanswer him. Or there will be consequences.”
Laura raises her eyebrows. “What are yougoing to do?”
I give her a sly smile. “Nothing. He’shaving a hard time and being overprotective.”
“It looks like you changed your mindabout the drinks.” Our server Emil places our sodas in front of us.
“They were from some guys in the lounge.”
“Very nice. Are you ready to order?” Weboth look at each other. Neither of us has really looked at the menu, but wenod.
“Um…” I open my menu, scanning it. “I’llhave the prime rib medium with a baked potato and a side salad.” Laura does thesame thing, ordering some chicken pasta dish.
“So, are you going to tell me what we aredoing after this?”
“When you tell me what we are reallydoing after…” I use air quotations. “Shopping.”
“You’re such a hooker.” She leans backagainst the vinyl seat, taking another sip of her drink.
“Wench.” I give her a sly smile.
“Excuse me, which one of you is KatherineHolt?” An astute looking man with a bow tie asks, leaning over us in the booth.
“That’s me.”
“I need you to sign for this.” He puts alarge floral bag on the table.
“Uh—what’s in it?”
