Page 135 of Friends Don't Kiss

We all look at him uneasily. There’s a family history there that’s a little unclear to me. Sometimes I wish I paid more attention to gossip.

Willow glances at him for a beat but directs her focus back on Colton. “No offense, Colt, but Paris, man? Paris? Do something!” Willow’s eyes are downright wet right now.

“No offense, Willow,” Emma cuts in, “but I agree with Kiara. Training in a French institute, maybe a write-up in food magazines, some endorsements from a celebrity chef… That’ll go a long way in solving Kiara’s cash flow issues. People love to lend money to successful people. Banks don’t tend to help people in need.”

“That’s cold,” the man whose voice isveryfamiliar says, pulling a chair next to Noah to join the conversation.Nigel. Or rather, Luke. Our local celebrity. There’s too much happening right now.

“And you are?” Emma says icily, confirming his assessment. Emma is not warm to outsiders.

“No one you need to know, love,” Nigel-slash-Luke says.

Emma rolls her eyes.

“Bathroom break,” Willow calls, forcing all the men to stand and let us through.

We crowd the bathroom once again. “That guy is hot,” Grace says, looking at Willow. “Who is he anyway?”

“He’s some rock star in hiding, according to Tracy,” Willow says, adding a touch of mascara.

Emma frowns. “You meanhe’sSexy Voice? Sounds like a jerk to me.”

“Guys, fingertips out,” Grace says, and plops a bead of cream on each of our fingers. “You need to hydrate those lips, ladies.”

“Ready to go back?”

“I’ll catch up with you,” I say. “I actually need to pee.”

While they’re gone and I’m in a stall, someone comes in, then rummages through something. “No. No! No! No! Please…” they whisper.

I flush and come out, going straight to the sinks. While I lather, I glance at the woman—no, the girl—and startle. It’s Isaac’s sister, I’m sure of it. The egg bomber! She looks guilty and without a glance my way, darts into a stall.

I wipe my hands, open the door to the hallway, and let it bang back closed, staying inside.

Sure enough, she comes out and freezes when she sees me.

“Hey,” I say with a smile. “You’re Isaac’s sister, right?”

She’s nervously playing with the hem of her hoodie. It’s too small for her, the sleeves showing her thin wrists. She averts my gaze and goes to the sink, running her hands under hot water. She nods. “Evie.”

There’s no point making her more uncomfortable than she already is. “The community chest is stocked only on community dinner nights.” During the community dinners that Justin organizes at Lazy’s, not only is food free, but there’s a box in each bathroom where people can either leave cash or take cash anonymously.

She looks defensively up at me. “What?”

“Pretty sure next one is in on New Year’s Day.”

She shrugs. “Whatever.”

“I could use some help with the baking, meanwhile. Could tie you over.”

Her hungry look reminds me of myself, a while back. But I was older than her. This is so unfair. I reach inside my wallet and hand her the three twenties I have. It’s not much, but in her situation, I bet it’s a lot. “Consider this a hiring bonus.” She goes to snatch it from me, but I pull my hand back. “I just wanna know one thing.”

Her smirk and forlorn gaze hit me in the gut. This is a look that says,there’s always a catch. I hate that I’m the one who brought it about.

“Just tell me why you threw eggs at Shy Rabit.”

She forces a laugh. “That old witch promised me a hundred bucks.”

“A hundred bucks to throw two eggs at a window?”

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