Page 37 of Finally Loved

Doing so while Alba was in her room was not the time. Thus, maybe lying hadn’t been all that childish. You did what you had to to protect yourself. And the people you were hiding in your bedroom.

Like a child…

Alba’s hand reached across the console and gripped Neve’s. “Whatever you decide, I know you’ll make the right decision.”

Neve looked down at their hands atop her thigh. Alba was so warm. She’d thought the same thing this morning when Alba was pretending to be a pool noodle.

She nodded, unable to figure out what to say but appreciating the support more than she could express. Maybe one day, she’d figure out this whole adulting thing and all the pieces would slot into place.

“Say,” Alba said, pulling her hand back but twisting forward to sit up and look directly at Neve again. “What are you doing Thursday night?”

Neve laughed, slightly embarrassed. “Uh, binging some random show in bed?”

“Is that a question?”

“No?”

Alba laughed. “Isthat?”

“Maybe?”

Alba laughed again. “Okay, well, how attached to those plans are you?”

It rather depended on what the alternative was, but that wasn’t a particularly appropriate thing to say to anyone. Besides, she’d had fun last night and today, so if Alba was the one making plans, they might not be so bad. “Uh, probably not very?”

Alba shot her an amused look, hearing the question again. “It’s Zainab’s birthday.”

“Happy Birthday.”

She smirked. “You could just tell her yourself. We’re going for dinner and dancing. Do you want to come?”

“Do all of your friends have birthdays in the same week?”

“No. Do yours?”

Neve narrowed her eyes. “They do not.”

“So, do you wanna come?”

She pursed her lips momentarily. “Won’t Zainab be upset with you randomly inviting people to her birthday party?”

“Firstly, you’re not random. Secondly, nah, she’ll love it.”

“She’ll have to call the restaurant to change the booking and everything?”

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that. It’s at our friend’s restaurant. We could bring the entire building and it would be fine.” She gestured out of the window at her apartment building.

“Do you know the whole building?”

“Not yet.”

“How long have you lived here?”

She laughed. “Long enough that you don’t have to worry I’m trying to make friends with them all and bring them along on Thursday night.”

“Good to know.”

“So, what do you think?”

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