Page 12 of That Secret Something

But no, dirty work clothes it was.

Tristan took our drinks orders—two tequilas all round—and left us to greet more customers at the door.

“How you doing, Jess?” Rebecca asked. “Business still booming?”

I picked at the cuffs of my shirt, cursing Maggie Thompson’s daughter for getting ketchup on my sleeves. “It’s good, thank you. Busy but good. What about you? How’s the filmmaking going?” I lifted my gaze to meet hers, and she smiled, tugging at the knots in my stomach. Then she ran her fingers over her dark green shirt, and my eyes were drawn to the shape underneath it. I quickly forced my gaze away. Stay at face height, Jess.

“Slow but good,” Rebecca replied. “It’s more about getting experience at this point, which usually means unpaid.”

“And living at Mum and Dad’s,” Lily added.

Rebecca flashed her a grin. “Oh, yes, it’s very glamorous work.”

I thought it was actually admirable that someone could follow their dreams, despite people’s disapproval. Lily had mentioned a few times how, ever since Rebecca had returned from university, her mum had been itching for her to get a stable job and move out of the family home.

Lily glanced between us before fluffing up her hair. “Right, well, now those pleasantries have been exchanged, I do have some important news to announce.”

My attention snapped to her belly, and she screwed up her face. “No, no. Not that. Why is that everyone’s initial reaction? Have you people not heard of contraception?”

“I can’t say it bears the same weight in my line of dating,” Rebecca commented, a smirk tugging at her mouth.

“Yes, Rebecca, you’re as gay as the day is long, we get it.”

My mind hitched on the thought: what she might look like out of her green flannel shirt, or if her bare legs still looked as good as they did in her jeans. I used to love watching her field hockey games at school—an excuse to stare at her in those little shorts and not feel out of place about it. I wonder if she still played? Would it be weird if I went to watch a game?

Yes, Jess. Very, very weird. Focus.

Lily stuck her pale hand out onto the table. A giant diamond ring gleamed under the warm lights.

“Oh my god! Lily! Tyler proposed?” I grabbed her hand, inspecting the ring closely. It was a princess cut, possibly two carats, with diamonds embedded along the platinum band. It was a sleek choice, one that suited her. I’d seen a lot of engagement rings in my time as a party planner (and maybe looked in a few shops myself too.)

“You’re getting married?” I’d never seen surprise on Rebecca Lawson’s face, but it was inevitable that she experienced the emotion in a way that made her mouth utterly kissable. Damn that mouth.

Lily nodded, her smile stretching over her face, her newly whitened teeth shining almost as bright as the rock on her finger. She worked as a dentist’s assistant now, and so was always up to date on the latest treatments.

“My little sister getting married.” Rebecca took Lily’s hand, peering closely. “It’s beautiful. The boy did well.”

Lily grinned. “Thanks, Becca.”

Rebecca pursed her lips. “Isn’t twenty-two a bit young to be getting married, though?”

Lily’s smile fell, and though I hated to admit it, I’d thought the same thing. Rebecca just had the guts to say it. Another thing I admired about her.

“Tyler is all I’ve ever wanted. All I could want.” Lily looked down at her hand in awe. “I don’t expect you to understand, Becca. We’ve always been different that way. I’ve never been more sure. It’s this…feeling I get inside. I know…and I want you to be happy for me.”

“Hey, I am.” She squeezed her hand. “If you’re happy, I’m happy. I just wanted to make sure that’s what you want.”

“It is,” Lily said, then turned to me. “And you?”

“Of course.” I smiled at her, though I wasn’t sure I understood the feeling, either. I’d never been certain about any of the people I’d dated, which sounded harsh, but it was true. Nothing lasted more than a few weeks, both men and women. And if the outcome was the same with both, surely the logical conclusion was that I was the problem, right? Dating had fallen to the back of my mind. My vibrator was less hassle.

I’d never been sure of my crush on Rebecca, either—whether it was all in my head, whether it would ruin my friendship with Lily, and whether it only ran skin deep. Lily and Tyler had been sure of each other since what felt like the dawn of time.

“You’re the smartest person I know, Lilz,” I said. “I trust your judgement about your own life.”

“Thanks, Jess. Just because I’m getting married doesn’t mean I’m signing my life over to the man, either. He knows that. I’m keeping my last name as well.”

I pictured the two of them at the altar, professing their undying love for each other. Warmth enveloped my heart, followed by a smidge of jealousy—not dissimilar to prom night. Prom night, where Rebecca had offered to go with me so I wouldn’t be alone; where we’d drunk too much and ended up in the bathroom. Who knows what could have happened if I hadn’t puked all over her shoes? The warmth morphed into embarrassment as I relived the moment.

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