Page 92 of The Billionaire's Wife

Before I could make some kind of excuse to delay, my stomach gurgled loudly.

Jenna laughed.

“All right, all right.” I eyed the quinoa salad. It did look good—other than the small beady stuff, which was probably the quinoa. But maybe I’d like it. “I’ll try the same.”

“Do you want to taste the salad first?” Carrie plated Jenna’s order and set it on the counter. “I have tasting spoons.”

“No. I’ll live on the edge. Can you add a double chocolate chunk cookie to mine though? Just in case.” If the salad wasn’t a win, the cookie and croissant would be enough to get me through until I got home. Tristan and I had ordered Chinese last night, and I knew for a fact that there were pot stickers in the fridge waiting for me.

Carrie plated my food, rang up Jenna, and then me. I tapped my phone to the credit card reader to pay, appreciating again that Megan wasn’t scared of technology so I didn’t have to go into the back room, dig out my wallet, and pay that way.

“Should we sit at a table or over at the couches?” Jenna held her tray of food.

“Couches.” I took my food and started that way.

The door jingled again and Megan came in, followed closely by Whitney, Kayla, and Sunny. My eyebrows lifted.

“Did we miss a memo?” Jenna settled on the couch and set her tray on the low coffee table.

“No. We ran into each other on the street.” Megan waved that off. “Oh good! You’re trying the food. How is it?”

“Don’t know yet, but the lattes are amazing. Plus the foam art is on point.” Jenna ripped one end off of her croissant and popped it into her mouth. “Bread’s good, too.”

I chuckled as I took my seat. I was getting more comfortable with this group of women, but there was part of me that wanted to hold back. Probably the same part that kept me holding back from Tristan, too. Dumb. I wasn’t going to think about it now, though. Right now? I was going to enjoy my food and listen to this group of friends talk about their lives and handle any customers who might wander into the bookstore on a Friday night.

It only took a few minutes for the rest of the group to get their food and join us at the couches. There were lots of yummy noises as people took their first bites. I finally worked up my courage to try the quinoa salad and…it wasn’t horrible.

I didn’t see myself wanting it on any kind of regular schedule, but I could eat it tonight without it being a “choke it down” scenario. So I’d take it. But I also couldn’t stop a wistful side-eye at the roast beef sandwich that Whitney had chosen.

“Okay. This is fantastic. Why didn’t you add a café sooner?” Kayla pointed her fork at Megan. “Prices are amazing. Food’s great. You’re going to be a smash.”

“You don’t know that.” Megan hunched her shoulders. “I agree that it’s tasty, but people have to come in here to know that.”

“We’re starting to get more browsers since we started up the Instagram page.” I cleared my throat. “When you’re sure about the café being ready, I’ll work food photos in. I’ve already taken some.”

“Do it. In fact,” Megan frowned at the coffee table where we’d all put our food. She gestured to it. “Can you do something with this to give the idea that it’s okay to come, eat, and hang out for a little bit with friends?”

I nodded. “Of course.”

I studied the table then stood. I took away the trays and moved things around a little, arranging forks so they looked more like the owner had just stepped away. When it was more pleasing to my eye, I adjusted my position and took a couple of shots.

“Can we eat now? Some of us are hungry.” Kayla laughed as she rubbed her baby bump. “I cannot wait for Christmas.”

“Or earlier. You know babies come when they want.” Whitney’s gaze held a tiny glint of sadness. “And honestly, you’re not the only one looking forward to this. I can’t wait to hold him. Or her. Tell me again why you refuse to do a gender reveal?”

“Because they’re ridiculous?” Kayla rolled her eyes.

“Okay, you don’t have to do a big party, but you could at least find out.” Whitney bit into her sandwich.

“We will. When the baby’s born. Surprise!” Kayla made jazz hands.

Whitney snorted. “Are you narrowing down names?”

“Oh my gosh.” Kayla turned to Megan. “Did you know your brother is a nightmare?”

Megan’s eyebrows lifted. “You were his best friend how long and didn’t figure that out?”

“I never talked to him about naming children, strangely enough.”

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