Page 68 of Evidence of a Folktale

“Fine,” Olivia said, and out of the corner of her eye, Bel caught Violet giving them an encouraging smile.

“Has anything new come up since I’ve been on set?” Bel pushed.

“No. But I don’t want to discuss the case. I’m so over this show.”

“Right.” Bel glanced at Violet and shrugged. The three of them used to laugh nonstop, their voices tripping over each other as they fought to be heard, but now they felt like strangers.

“One dirty martini for you.” Rollo saved the trio by slipping the drink onto the table. “Wasn’t your boyfriend supposed to come too?”

“He unfortunately has to work,” Bel said.

“What does he do?” he asked. “Doesn’t he own like half of the town?”

“Something in finance, and yes, he does,” she answered. “He works with companies, which is like speaking Greek to me, but whatever he does, he’s good at it.”

“I’ll say. He’d have to be to own the Reale Estate.”

The four dissolved into small talk, the awkwardness growing as the night progressed. Olivia made it extremely clear she wanted nothing to do with Bel, and afterthe initial nerves wore off between Violet and Rollo, the couple’s flirting doubled with every round of drinks. Drinks that Bel shouldn’t indulge in, but did anyway. Between Olivia’s cold shoulder and Violet’s heart-eyes, vodka was her best friend.

“I didn’t know you had a tattoo,” Bel said when the foodwas finally gone. Between the fried carbs and alcohol, the foursome had grown sweaty, and Rollo had shed his flannel to reveal a tee shirt stretched over a sculpted frame.

“Oh, yeah.” He rolled up his sleeve to expose the inked image of a woman reading a book to the child leaning against her. “I got it for my grandmother. She raised me after my parents passed.”

“That’s so sweet,” Bel said, her brain suddenly fuzzy. She should’ve opted for something weaker than vodka because the clear liquid had gone right to her head. “I bet she’s proud of you.”

“I like to think she is.” He released his sleeve as he draped an arm around Violet’s shoulders… which was Bel’s clue to leave. She was drunk… too drunk, and Violet and Rollo were minutes away from forgetting they had an audience.

“It’s getting late.” She stood, her fuzzy brain making her want to trip and giggleat the same time. She thankfully did neither. “I should head home. We have another signing event tomorrow, and I’m meeting Miss Monroe early.”

“No, stay,” Violet crooned.Seemedshe’d drunk a lot as well.

“Would you like me to drive you?” Rollo asked, and despite being drunk, Bel could tell that while her intoxication worried him, he didn’t revel in the idea of leaving just yet.

“That’s sweet, but don’t worry about me.”

“Detective, I don’t…” he paused. “You shouldn’t drive.”

“Good man.” She patted his hand where it rested on Violet’s shoulder. “But I’m not driving.I’ll make Eamonpickme up.”

“Oh okay, great.” He smiled, and Bel knew Violet was in trouble. He was way too gorgeous when he smiled.

“Make sure these lovely ladies get home safe, though,” she said as she hugged Violet goodbye. She leaned for Olivia when she was done, but the stiffness in her partner’s back warned her not to follow through.

“Yes, Detective,” Rollo said.

“Night, guys!” Bel waved at the table as she aimed for the bathroom. She texted Eamon, undoubtedly riddling her message with typos, and then used the restroom.

“Hey!” Violet ambushed her when she emerged, and Bel smirked at her friend. She felt good… for now. When the haze wore off, her head would ache from both dehydration and depression over Olivia, but right now, her mood was blissful.

“You okay?” she asked.

“I’m fine,” Violet said. “Well?”

“Well, what?”

“What do you think of Ethan?”

“He paid for dinner and drinks. He wouldn’t let me drive intoxicated, and heclearlyloves his grandmother,” Bel said. “Plus, he’s hot.”

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