Page 30 of The Last Time

“Here we go. This should fit everyone,” she says as we all take a seat around the center table.

“So, I hear you’re dating one of Asher’s friends, Kyle. How long have you two been seeing each other?” I ask.

“It’s only been a couple months. I know this one over here isn’t a fan of seeing her favorite person more often.” Avery gestures to Layla who sticks her tongue out at us.

I giggle at her immaturity, although I can tell she is joking.

“There’s my girl,” a deep voice bellows from behind us. I turn around and see Josh and the other familiar faces I met the other night at the café walking up to us.

My heart begins to quicken with excitement. As they get closer, I notice one face is missing from the group.

Asher.

My entire body deflates like I just found out my favorite candy was getting discontinued. Maybe I need to set my sights on a man tonight. Clearly, I have it bad for Asher, and that needs to change.

The guys begin to pile in the seats around us.

Kyle sits next to Avery and gives her a big, extended kiss that might be going a bit too far in public.

“Eww. Get a room,” Layla says what, I’m sure, everybody is thinking.

Avery blushes while Kyle just winks at Layla, seemingly proud of his obvious affection for his girl.

“I’m surprised to see you’re willing to brave being around this crowd again,” Josh says to me from the couch adjacent to me.

I smile. “Aw, you guys weren’t too bad. We’ll see how tonight goes. I may just all of a sudden have a jam-packed schedule the rest of the summer,” I joke.

Josh laughs easily, making me feel so comfortable in this group. I really need to talk to Layla about what happened between them. I just can’t see anyone not liking this guy.

The waitress comes over and takes everyone’s drink order. Since it’s a warm night out, I decide to do a strawberry margarita.

“Oh, that sounds yummy!” Layla shouts from the other couch. “I’ll change my order to that.”

Josh rolls his eyes at her.

“Do you have a problem?” she glares at him.

“Must you always be so indecisive?” he remarks.

“I’m decisive when it counts,” she replies.

I just sit back and watch them go back and forth, not sure if they realize there’s anyone else around them. They seem lost in each other.

“Oh, yeah?” he says. “Like when?”

She crosses her arms over her chest. “When it comes to men.”

His face turns cold as he glowers at her. “Whatever,” he mumbles to himself.

As soon as my drink is brought out, I take a huge gulp to ease the tension in my body. The first sip feels so delicious going down. I really needed this night out.

I sit back with my drink and listen contently to the chit-chat back and forth between the group.

“So, you’re saying that you don’t think we needed to draft another offensive lineman to give our QB more time in the pocket?” Josh asks the group animatedly.

I assume he’s talking about Atlanta. That’s usually who people around here root for, and he’s right.

“Nah, man. We needed another good receiver,” David combats.

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