“Are you sure?”
“Are you kidding? Make the label pay.”
Skyla stroked her thigh. “I bet that ribeye is calling your name, love. Mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts?”
She may have made an embarrassing yummy sound.
“That’s such a good choice,” Kane said. He got their drink orders too. “I’ll get that in for you, and please let me know if you need anything else.”
“So, I want to know everything about you, Kirsten. I’m notoriously nosy, and I can tell I’m going to love you.”
Kirsten shrugged, but she was tickled as hell. “I’m a waitress, I teach music, I play gigs. Uh. I have cats and a Subaru.”
“No, no. That tells me what everyone else knows.” Peach put her elbows on the pristine white tablecloth. “Tell me one thing no one else knows.”
“I—I’m a secret John Denver superfan.”
“No shit?” Peach cackled madly. “Me too! I love him.”
“Yeah, my granny was a huge fan, and I love that I’m in the Rockies now. It makes me stupidly happy.”
“I bet.” Peach nudged Skyla. “See? I adore her already.”
“We’ll have to do a cover, babe,” Skyla said. “‘Poems, Prayers, & Promises’ for the win.”
“I love that song!”
“Y’all are so cute.” Peach just beamed at them.
“Okay, Peach. Your turn. Tell me a secret about you.”
“Hmmm. I told my husband I had vaginal dryness two years before I even started menopause. I’m the queen of the handjob.”
“Peach!” Skyla blinked, her eyes wide, but Kirsten cracked up, her laughter ringing out. That was perfect.
“I know, baby girl. I’m like your granny. But Kirsten and I are bonding.”
“We so are.” Kirsten held out a closed fist to bump, and Peach popped her gently with a be-ringed hand.
“So, you have a house here?”
“An apartment. Sort of. It’s a house, and I’ve had the same landlady for my whole time here. I love it.”
“Oh, that sounds nice.”
“You’ll have to come see it while you’re here. Meet the cats.”
“I’m thinking of making an offer on it,” Skyla said. “Kirsten says the landlady is getting older, and she might want the responsibility off her hands.”
“Seriously? Are you going to just have the whole house then?”
“I’m the only one that would be interested in buying. Mr. Hardiston is selling his store, and the McGarry’s are househunting for when their lease was up. I think she just lets me stay because I never leave.”
“Ah. Well, that sounds grand.” Peach chuckled. “Young people. I mean, I’m at the downsizing stage, so I understand your landlady.”
Their food came not long after that, the chatter so bright and happy that Kirsten didn’t even get self-conscious about the size of the damn steak. It was luscious.
They dug in, everyone sharing bites, just talking and happy.