Sweet As You

(34) Kathie Jane

Kathie Jane

I drummed my fingers on the table and swallowed my salad. Jess nibbled away her cheeseburger from across me. Audrey kept giving me odd looks even while keeping the conversation afloat.

"Jess, smaller bites. You're eating like a caveman." She pierces a lettuce with her fork and shoves a napkin to Jessica.

"When was the last time you ate?" I quipped.

Jess counted with her fingers. "In my car on the way here. What are you guys having for dessert?"

"Oh, my God. That's your second burger already." Audrey gave her a horrified look.

Our friend merely touches her belly. "I still have room for dessert."

I look over my shoulder, gazing distractedly at the customers coming in for their dinner reservations. My eyes were on a lookout for one specific couple.

A finger snapping interrupted me from my subtle search.

"Kathie Jane, are you here with us?" Jess kept snapping her fingers until they had my attention.

Two pair of eyes – brown (Audrey's) and green (Jessica) focused on my face as if the answer was written on my forehead.

"What are you doing?" Audrey's head dipped to the side.

"People-watching." I grasped for nonchalance. Because there was something more to our dinner reservation tonight at one of Cade's brother, Andrei's restaurant than a casual dinner to catch up with my besties.

"Why?" Jess grabbed five of her French fries and shove them all to her mouth.

I shrug. "It's a lovely evening to have dinner at one of the finest restaurants in town."

"Yeah, let me swallow these fries and call it bullshit."

"Are you waiting for someone? Are we eating with someone else? I thought there's just supposed to be the three of us."

I held up both hands. "We're not waiting for anyone."

Audrey puffed out a sigh. "Good. I'm too tired for small conversation right now. I've interviewed twenty writers today and the only candidate fitting was the one that your sister recommended. Julie Montgomery came in last but turns out to not be the least."

"My sister was a great columnist," I enthused.

Jessica's eyes squinted over my shoulder. "Oh, I think I know why you volunteered to make the reservation tonight."

I froze. "Are they here?"

Audrey's perfect brows together. "What are you up to, Kathie?"

"Nothing. I just remembered Cade mentioning he had a date with Margot Fletcher. And then I got curious."

Jess wiggled her eyebrows at me. "You wanna see your masterpiece, matchmaker?"

"They've been ushered to their table," Audrey murmurs as though to keep me updated. "She's wearing a cream-colored shirt over a gray blazer. Gray pencil skirt and nude peep-toe heels. Not the best ensemble to a date, if you ask me."

"And he's looking a total Eye-candy from here. Man, he's hot without glasses. Did you give him all these tips?"

A knob clogged my throat. "Do they look good together?"

Audrey and Jessica exchanges looks and resisted a chuckle.

"Together as business partners on a meeting over dinner?" Jessica snort-laughed. "Yes."

"I don't know, maybe, they hadn't broken the ice yet." Audrey managed a brief glance over my shoulder. "They're drinking wine so that could be the ice-breaker."

"Which reminds me, since you're one of these people, what are the proper ice-breaker for workaholics?" Jess looped her fingers together and dramatically batted her lashes at Audrey.

She casted her a withering look. "Shut up."

"Oops. Hit a soft spot." She grinned, reaching for another fries. She nipped a couple of fries between her lips and kept it there like sticks of cigarettes.

"Seriously, guys, do they look good together?" I ask, suddenly nervous.

Audrey's furious glare vanished when she turned to me. "Why does it matter?"

"Because I need to make sure if I turn around and see them together, all my feelings for Cade will just give up."

Audrey leaned back against her chair, brown eyes round as saucers. Two fries dropped on the table having slipped off from Jessica's now gaping mouth.

"Excuse me, what?" Jess was the first one to recover.

I covered my face with my palms. "I know. I'm a horrible person."

"Horrible? What do you mean?" I felt a hand tugging my hand away from my face. Audrey held me in her gaze.

I sighed heavily. "I'm in a relationship. I kissed another man."

"Damn. Was it good?" Jess green eyes broadened at me.

"Jess, you're missing the point."

She blinked. "Oh, right. Was he a good kisser?"

I narrowed my eyes on her. "No more questions about the kiss."

"Kathie, Owen left like a headless chicken," Audrey speaks, relieving me of Jessica's questions.

"Yes. But we're not broken up. He left to think about us. To take a break."

"You don't take a break from relationships. That's not how it works. You either want them or not," Audrey says pointedly.

Jess gave her a strange look.

She clicked her tongue. "I have a room full of writers who write about relationships."

I shake my head. "He just needed some time away. And here I am, falling for some other guy."

"Oh, honey, not just some other guy. The Cade Parkinson who just spotted you and is making his way to us." Jess picked up the fries she dropped on the table and set them aside.

My heart hammered. "Oh, my God. Really? How the hell do I look?"

"You look gorgeous. Deep breaths," Audrey whispers.

"A goddess." Jess winked at me before plastering a huge smile for the newcomers.

A shadow loomed over me. I didn't have to look. The perfume has given him away.

"We saw you guys and figured we should say 'hi.'" Margot's voice was friendly.

I felt a smile took over my face and I stood up so we could air-kiss. "Hi. It's so nice to see you."

Audrey and Jessica did the same thing. Cade and I briefly exchanged smiles. I was glad my friends were there to manage the small conversation and minutes later, they were going back to their table.

I stared down at my salad that was now unappetizing.

Jess cleared her throat. "You okay, sweetie?"

"This was a bad idea. Now I hate Margot Fletcher so much." I propped my elbow and rested my chin on my palm.

"You don't hate her. You like Cade. So, obviously, you're jealous of Margot Fletcher." Jess gives me a consoling smile.

"Well, that wasn't comforting at all."

Hi, lovelies! What do you think? :) Tell me on the comments below. Also, don't forget to vote! It will make my day. Love you! Xoxo