Page 149 of Friends Don't Kiss

Chris frowns, trying to shake off the unpleasant feeling of doom. “What do you mean?”

She clasps her hands in front of herself and blows raspberries. “It’s a black box. A market basket.”

Thin, cold sweat forms on his back. Surely she’s talking about something else, right? Because why would they have gone through the trouble of sending Colton to Paris with a shitload of local foods if Kiara wasn’t allowed to use any in her capstone project?

“Spell that out for me,” he says.

Annabel scratches her head, then repositions her pink bandana. “Feel like we’re gonna need a drink for this conversation.”

Chris stands still for a moment. Is she for fucking real? He feels like telling her off, but this is Annabel Plum. There are limits. “I’ll see you at Lazy’s,” he says. He storms out without a coat or even a hat and climbs over the pile of snow Nathaniel plowed alongside their sidewalk, not bothering to see if Annabel is following. He has two hundred feet to work out his frustration; he better make each one count.

“Hey, dude, what’s up?” Justin asks him as he storms into Lazy’s.

“I’m gonna need a double for this one. And you might too.”

Justin raises an eyebrow. “Let’s tackle the Whistle Pig Twelve Year, then. Try and make it last, yeah?” He grabs the heavy bottle and two rocks glasses. His gaze fleets back to the door.

“Thank you, honey,” a woman in a pink bandana says to Willow as they both come through the door. “Aww who’s a gooddog? Who’s a gooddog?” the woman coos at Moose, then lowers herself until she disappears, hidden by the bar, and her voice comes out muffled. “Who needs a belly rub? Yesh. Yesh you do. Aww.”

Willow’s eyes are like saucers, but her lips are pinched like someone trying not to laugh. “You need a drink too?” Justin asks her.

Willow shakes her head. “Just water. This is gonna be plenty fun enough. Thanks, though.”

Justin pours Chris his drink, then leans over the bar. “Afternoon, ma’am.”

The woman stands up. “Thank you, you too.” Then, turning to Chris who’s halfway down his whiskey, she adds, “You ready for the talk?”

“Why don’t I move you to a booth,” Justin says. In his ten years owning Lazy’s, his policy has always been no drama. The last thing he wants is an argument at the bar, right as people walk in.

“Nah, I think this conversation needs to happen right here, where everyone coming in can participate.”

Justin shakes his head. “Dude, not happening.”

“Why don’t you hear whatMs. Plumhas to say, and then you decide,” Chris answers, solidly anchoring his forearms on the bar.

Justin beams. “You’re Annabel Plum?” He extends his hand. “So happy to meet you. Welcome. I keep missing you every time you’re in town. And thanks so much for everything you did for Kiara.” He almost wants to ask for a selfie with her, one he could print and frame in a place of honor, but something tells him this isn’t the time. “So uh…” His gaze fleets between her and Chris.Might as well get this over with now. “What brings you here?” On instinct, he grabs another rocks glass and pours a Whistle Pig for her as well.

She takes the glass, swirls the liquid, tilts her head, mutters, “What the hell, let’s do this,” then downs the whole thing. Slaps the glass on the counter and says, “I thought I had a genius idea, but this guy here seems to think differently.” Her thumb points sideways at Chris. Their gazes do not meet. They’re taking Justin as their referee.Not good. Luckily, Chloe slides next to him behind the bar, wraps her arm around his hips, pecks his jaw, then taking the atmosphere in, she asks, “What’s up?”

Chris opens his mouth to answer, but is interrupted by Alex and Skye barging in. “There you are!” Alex exclaims. “The bakery’s empty, you’re not answering your phone, and—” Registering the expressions on both sides of the bar, she interrupts herself. “What’s going on?”

“Shit’s hitting the fan,” Willow chimes in. “We just don’t know which way the wind is blowing yet.”

“What shit?” Chloe asks.

“Honey, why don’t you take Moose for a walk?” Alex says to Skye.

Skye perches herself on a stool on the other side of Willow. “Maybe later.”

Alex blinks, seems to have an internal conflict about which battle to fight, then looks at her fiancé. “Honey? What’s going on?”

Skye tucks herself against Willow. “This is gonna be good,” Willow whispers in her ear.

“You know how we got the whole town to convince Colton to bring food and shit to Kiara?” Chris answers Alex, looking at Annabel.

The door swings open on Grace and Ethan clutching at each other, followed by Cassandra and Noah. All four were having a lively conversation that stops as they soak up the somber atmosphere at the bar.

“What’s going on?” Noah asks, his eyebrows furrowing.

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