Page 46 of Finally Loved

“I think it’s about more than just me—”

“Yeah, you’re notthatimportant,” she interjected with a smirk.

Alba scowled. “But, yeah, I think that’s basically their whole thing.”

“She needs new friends.”

“Easier said than done.”

“I can imagine.”

“How long is this food going to take?” Alba muttered, mostly to herself and entirely rhetorically, glancing towards the kitchen again.

“She’s always welcome to stay at our place. For as long as she needs,” Zainab said seriously.

Alba shot her a look. “You’re not worried I’m going to fall in love with her if she’s staying at our place?”

Her eyes searched Alba’s face for an uncomfortably long moment. “With regards to that, I don’t think it matters whether she’s staying at our place or not. But, that’s irrelevant. I like her, you’re friends with her, she needs help, and, besides, I have no interest in acting like Charlie. You can make your own choices and, like I said, I’ll be there if it all comes tumbling down.”

Alba shot her a smile. She and Zainab liked to wind each other up, but they were always going to be in each other’s corners. She wished Charlie could have done the same for Neve and she didn’t even know the whole story yet.

Her smile switched back from sincere to its usual, casual expression and she nodded towards Zainab. “Well, you can invite her to stay yourself, if you like. I’m not planning on running to her place, and we came in the same car.”

“Oh, really, you don’t want to run down the highway dragging two people’s meals with you?”

“Right back to snark, I see.”

“What else did you expect?”

“Nothing. And I’d have been disappointed if you’d done something else.”

Zainab laughed. “I know. But I’m not coming with you. I’ll drop you off, but I don’t think she needs both of us there. You said she was in her car?”

“Yeah, but I’m not trying to ditch you for dinner. You can totally—”

“I’m a big girl. I can handle eating alone.”

“You sure?”

“Am I sure I know how to feed myself? Yeah, had that skill down for a good while now.”

“You’re insufferable.”

“And you’re not?” She stared pointedly at Alba.

“I own it.”

Clearly deciding the battle wasn’t worth it, Zainab shook her head and dropped it. “What’s with the extra avocado salsa? You didn’t even ask her what she wanted. How do you know what she wants extra of?”

“Informed guess based on what she ordered at brunch. She loves avocados. You should have seen her being all cute about her avocado toast.”

Zainab watched her with that knowing, accusatory gaze again. “How very millennial of her.”

“As if you’re not the exact same way?”

“This isn’t about me.”

“I’ll say.”

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