Page 72 of A Sin So Pure

I’m cut off by a cheerful voice. My head whips to the side to find Hattie waving at us from a table near the far windows. Nora sits to her left, beside an empty seat, shaking her head.

“Actually, I think we’re set, thank you,” I say, pointing to the half-filled table.

I don’t wait for the hostess to reply before I grab Leo’s hand and pull him towards the group. He quickly takes the empty seat next to Josie and across from Nora while I slip into the one between Nora and the windows.

“No Claude tonight?” Leo asks, noting the empty seat opposite Hattie at the other head of the table.

“He and Wes had promised they’d do dinner with their nan a while ago,” Josie says.

Leo unbuttons his suit jacket and leans back in his seat like he owns the place.

“They should be here to support you,” Nora grumbles.

“It’s fine.” Josie waves her off. “I’ve got you guys.”

“I’m glad you invited us,” I say. “This place is fancier than I thought it would be.”

I take the cloth napkin and drape it over my thighs. It’s a deep ruby-red that compliments the amethyst shade of my dress. I curated my outfit to impress tonight; the heavily embellished gown reaches my ankles, and my hair is curled and pinned into a low bun.

The rest of the table is also dressed more formal than usual. Josie is wearing a dress tonight, a deep teal that suits her warm tan skin, and Nora has added a matching suit jacket to her blouse and trouser set.

Nora fingers the beaded fringe that serves as the sleeve of my dress.

“This is cute.”

“Not sexy?” I pout.

I’m teasing, but I don’t think she realizes since her brows knit in concerned confusion.

“You’re always sexy,” she says, like I’m speaking nonsense. “Do you not enjoy being called cute?”

“Of course I do. I was teasing.”

“Oh, okay. Good.”

Things have still been a bit awkward between us, but I wasn’t lying to Leo when I said they were looking up.

“You’re pretty cute too,” I say.

“How is it that you two got even more sickeningly sweet after your latest relationship woes?” Leo says, adding a fake gag after.

“You’re just jealous because she doesn’t like dick, and you can’t find anyone as good as her,” Nora says smugly. “No offense, Hattie.”

“None taken. If I was attracted girls, I would have a crush on Imogen too,” Hattie says, nodding her head emphatically. “I know a catch when I see one.”

Leo sighs dramatically, steepling his fingers and leveling a serious stare at Nora over them.

“Mo is basically my sister. And I have neveroncethought about her sexually,” he says. He takes a dramatic pause, giving each of us four girls an individual glare. “However, if you know someone with a figure like hers, I will not say no to an introduction.”

I lock eyes with Josie across the table, both of us trying—and failing—to hold in our laughter. It dominoes into all five of us filling the room with the cackles of our amusement.

“On that note…” I snag the menu off the table. “What is everyone thinking for food?”

“I recommend anything with truffle in it. Those were my favorite dishes during testing,” Josie says.

“Eh, I don’t eat mushrooms,” Hattie says, nose scrunching as she picks up her menu.

“Then don’t order a dish with mushrooms.” Nora rolls her eyes. “Simple.”

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