Page 82 of Against The Rules

“She is, she comes here all the time. She’s on the patio. You’ll love it.” The hostess grins at me, and I trail after her to a set of black-framed French doors. My eyes go big as I take in the terrace.

Twinkle lights are strung overhead, casting a warm glow across the blue and white patterned tile in the early evening dusk. A fountain tinkles amidst picturesque tables with crisp white linens, and boxes spilling over with fuchsia and white flowers adorn every possible surface. A brick wall has inset shelves, filled to the brim with flickering candles in all sizes.

“Wow.” I had no idea this place existed, and for it to exist in the middle of a bustling city like Philly feels extraordinary.

“Not bad, huh?” the hostess asks, then points out a corner table where Kelsey sits.

It’s magical, and serene, and the kind of place where I’d love to sit and drink wine and unwind with a good book or a friend. A pang goes through me because I automatically think of Presley, who I haven’t heard from all day, despite texting her twice.

It’s kept me on edge and worried… but maybe my relationship with her will just be the latest in a string of friendship casualties. Maybe it’s not Trent at all.

I make myself wave back at Kelsey, then hustle over to the table, pulling out a chair and trying to act normal.

Despite my momentary awe at the restaurant patio, my nerves come rushing back.

“Hey, Savannah,” she says, totally at ease, a wide smile on her camera-ready face. “Thank you so much for meeting me. Was the drive into the city awful?”

“No, just parking,” I answer honestly and she laughs, then scrunches her nose.

“I should have met you in Delaware. I just was really craving the food from here. Do you like Greek food?”

“I do.” My stomach growls, and I press a hand over it because I haven’t eaten all day.

“Great! Their food is amazing. You’re going to love it, then. I already ordered us some hummus and tzatziki and pita. They have the best olive tapenade here, too. Oh my god, I’m so excited to eat.” She claps her hands, and I smile despite myself, then get freaked out all over again.

Kelsey is really nice and easy to be around.

It wouldn’t be hard at all to accidentally tell her way too much.

“That sounds really good,” I venture.

“Good! Did you get up to anything fun last night?”

“No,” I say, too loudly, then clutch the sweating ice water in front of me, drinking from it hastily.

“Oh, okay. It was Friday night, so I just was wondering.”

“Sorry.” I close my eyes, trying to control my breathing. I’m a fucking mess! “I was supposed to have a girls’ night and my best friend canceled at the last minute. It was… not what I expected.”

Heat blossoms on my cheeks, and I don’t have to look in a mirror to know I’m blushing furiously. Yeah. Having earth-shattering sex with Tyler Matthews was definitely not what I was expecting. Having him tell me he loved me… also not what I was expecting.

“Oh, no, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

I nod. Yes, upset. I am definitely upset about Presley and not thinking about how good Tyler felt inside me.

“It stinks, you know?” I frown, trying to play it off.

“Adult friendships are tricky,” Kelsey agrees. “Is she on the cheer team with you?”

I blink, trying to keep up. “No, she’s my roommate. She and I met in college, we both majored in communications. She ended up working with a PR firm and I went my own way, working with clients more selectively.” It’s the canned answer I give when someone asks me what I do for a living.

“Do you enjoy it?”

“Actually,” I draw out the word, trying to figure out how to tell her what I’m doing now. What if she asks how I got the start-up money? What if—

A platter loaded with triangles of still-steaming pita bread arrives, several ramekins full of all kinds of dip in the middle.

My mouth waters. I’m so hungry.

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