Page 17 of A Sip of Sherry

I shrugged and sipped my latte.“I guess.”

“You guess?”Lainey plucked the latte from my hand and took a sip.Her eyes pinched shut, and her mouth dropped open, tongue sticking out.“My God, that is sweet.”

“It’s delicious.You’re the only cake maker I know who doesn’t like sweet coffee.”

“I prefer to eat my sweets, not drink them.”

“I prefer both.”I snatched the latte out of her hand and brought it to my lips.

Lainey opened and closed her mouth a few times, like she was savoring a piece of chocolate cake.“Is that peach cobbler?”

“Sure is.”

“Once I got over the initial sweet assault, it’s actually quite good.”

She reached for it, but I pulled it away from her.“Get your own,” I said with a laugh.

“You lie to me, and now you’re withholding caffeine?It’s like I don’t even know you anymore.”

I handed her the cup and smiled, trying to hide the sadness that rolled through me.

Lainey took a sip, and as she returned the cup to me, her eyes narrowed.“What’s the matter?”

I shook my head.“Nothing.”

“Is lying to me the new norm?”she asked.

I deflated, leaning against the wall.“I’m sorry.I just… I’m so happy you’re happy.It’s just…”

“You miss me?”

My chin lifted, and I met her blue eyes that had been a constant in my life for as long as I could remember.The one person who was always there for me.“Yeah.I miss you.”

“I miss you, too.”Without warning, she wrapped up my five-foot-three frame in her five-foot-one.“I’ve been a terrible friend.”

“You haven’t.I’m just being needy.”

She pulled back, resting her hands on my arms.“No, you’re just being someone who needs a friend, and I’ve been failing in that department.”

“You haven’t.”

“If I hadn’t, I would have realized what happened with you and Ben months ago.I’m sorry you’ve had no one to talk about this with.”

My lips pressed together as an unexpected wave of emotion slammed into me.

“Tell you what.After your event today, come by the shop.We can have girl talk.You bring the wine, and I’ll bring the cake.”

“What about Nero?”

“What about him?”

“He just hung that sign for you and all, and now you’re going to abandon him?”I laughed.

“He’ll manage for a night.”

“What will I manage?”Nero’s head popped in the doorway as he and Ben walked by with the ten chairs on a pushcart.

“I’m having girls night tonight.You’re on your own.”

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