Page 95 of Happily Never After

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Admit it. You think we’re moving too fast. That’s why you’ve been asking me about his mom and our plans for the future. Was your next question going to be about finances? Division of household chores?”

“No.” A total lie. “I was just curious. With everything happening with Kyle and Nicole. Luke and I talked about kids the other day.”

Mindy pushed her sunglasses back up and drove forward. “You can say whatever you want, but I know what you’re trying to do. And frankly, I’m insulted. You know Sawyer’s a good guy. He saved your life. How else do you want him to prove himself?”

“I know he’s a good guy!” She should have kept her mouth shut. Mindy was an adult, and she could make her own decisions. Maybe Claire really did need to sleep—she seemed to be losing control of her inner monologue. “I just want to make sure you’re ready. Marriage is a big commitment.”

“You don’t think I know that?” Mindy’s voice had reached an octave only dogs could hear. This was bad. She hadn’t seen her this mad since Claire had tagged the ESA house at Venor while sleepwalking.

Great, now she had pissed off her best friend too. She needed to dial down the meddling. “I’m sorry. You know I love you. I just wanted to be sure that you’re both ready for this. Do you really feel like you’ve gotten past what Gavin did to you?”

Gavin, Mindy’s boyfriend the previous spring and summer, had turned out to be in ESA. She had punched him in the face during the fake event they had thrown to save Wendy.

Mindy squared her shoulders and the car continued down the highway. “I appreciate your concern,” she said carefully. “And I’m sorry for snapping. I think I’m just hungry. And maybe a little stressed since we got fired. But I don’t think I need to remind you that we work for the same company and have the same feelings about love and marriage. Have you ever heard me even mention marriage with any of my exes?”

It was a good point. For someone whose career revolved around planning proposals, Mindy herself had never expressed interest in getting married, even to her serious suitors.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll stop grilling you. I understand if you want to make Nicole your matron of honor.”

“Nicole will be responsible for an entire human being at that point. She’ll have enough to worry about. The job is yours. As long as you stop questionnaire-ing me.”

“I promise.” Claire crossed her heart. “Oh, is that the place?”

A turquoise building with a bright orange sign that read Espresso Yourself stood to their right.

“Yes. You’re sure I can getrealcream here? Not something that was squeezed out of an almond?” Mindy asked as they parked. She wrinkled her nose.

“Positive,” Claire said, getting out of the car. She pulled a lint roller from her purse and quickly ran it over her blouse and pencil skirt. The amount of animal hair in their home seemed to have increased five-fold since Winston came home. “The reviews online specifically mentioned animal milk, which is apparently what milk is now called.”

“LA is just the worst,” Mindy muttered.

Claire almost smiled. “Okay, you go pick a table and I’ll grab us some muffins and lattes. Do you think I should get one for her too? Is that too presumptuous?”

Mindy shrugged. “Do it.”

When they finally emerged from the café an hour and a half later, the afternoon sun shone oppressively overhead.

“Well, we’re not hiring her,” Mindy said as the door swung shut behind them. “I don’t think she’d ever stop talking long enough to figure out what a client actually wants.”

“I didn’t see her take a breath for ten minutes straight when she was describing her work history. Or blink. She’s a medical marvel,” Claire said, shaking her head.

“I don’t like to say unkind things,” Mindy began. Claire snorted. “But I think I would rather hire Luke’s crazy, drainpipe-climbing ex-girlfriend to work for us.”

Claire collapsed in the passenger seat and hugged the binder to her chest. “Don’t even speak her name. I fully expect her to try to sue Luke even though she was the one trespassing on his property.”

“At least we have the security cam footage,” Mindy said, reversing out of her parking spot. “It won’t hold up in court.”

“Thank god. So one interviewee was a huge flop already. And we only have three more scheduled. What if they all suck?”

The tiny sliver of hope she had been carrying was effectively extinguished. What a fuckingday. Everything was trash. She shouldn’t have been surprised after how the morning had started. Clearly the universe was punishing her for something.

Mindy shook her head. “They can’t all suck. Ashley was an anomaly.”

“I’ve never seen such a chatty goth,” Claire marveled. “Can we stop at the liquor store?”

“Obviously,” Mindy said. She was already headed toward the nearest one. “Maybe check on your mom before we start drinking, though?”

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