Page 92 of August
“I want you to meet my fiancée, Kyle. Ky?” Melinda waved another woman over.
It went on and on like this for the first fifteen minutes. Myra had been wrong to assume that people would be in and out. Nearly every woman Myra had mentioned to her was already there when they arrived. There were several tables lined up together in the bar, making one giant table to hold them all, which now included Elisa. Elisa was sitting between Jill and Linden. Myra was on the other side of the table, sitting between Enid and Rory. Elisa wasn’t sure how they’d gotten separated when most of the other couples were sitting next to their partners instead of across from them, but she didn’t mind. It gave her a chance to stare at Myra from across the table and think about the fact that she was part of a couple.
Technically, that wasn’t something new. She’d been part of a couple before and for a long time. But it wasn’t one she was proud of. Shewasproud of being with Myra. She loved holding her hand as they walked down the street. She loved sitting here, talking to her friends, and learning more about the woman who’d made her come more times than she could count last night.
“So, Elisa, Myra told us you have two kids, right?” Jill asked.
“I do. AJ and Adele.”
“Adele? After the singer?” Jill asked.
“Oh, no,” she said with a little laugh. “But I get that a lot. My kids are eighteen. I’m not sure how many yearsthatAdele has been famous for, but I’d never heard of her backthen. It’s after my ex-husband’s grandmother. AJ is Archie Junior, technically, after his father.”
“Oh, cool,” Jill said.
“They’re about to go off to college, right?” Willa asked as she wrapped an arm around Jill’s chair and leaned over to join their conversation.
“They are. It’s interesting because they’re twins, and this is the first time they’ll really be separated for more than a day or two.”
“Different schools?” Linden asked.
“Yes. My son got an athletic scholarship to play soccer, and Adele is going to a great school on an academic one.”
“That’s great,” Linden replied. “Congrats on the successful kid-raising. If I had kids, I’m sure they’d be twiddling their thumbs right about now, playing video games, or hanging out in the Quarter.”
“If you had kids, they’d be Asher’s. Let’s be real,” Sophie said, laughing. “And Asher would’ve never let that happen.”
“In my scenario, I had these kids years ago, before Ash and I got together.”
“Yes, but you’ve been best friends forever. She would’ve basically been helping you raise them, so my point stands,” Sophie argued.
“She’s right,” Asher said.
“Soph, where’s Bryce?” Myra asked.
“Not here,” Sophie replied with a sigh. “I can’t wait until we’re done with this distance thing. I miss her all the time.”
“Where does she live?” Elisa asked.
“Tennessee,” Sophie replied.
“Okay. Refill for you,” Candace said, dropping a drink off in front of Jill. “And you.” She placed another one in front of Enid. “Rory, want another drink?”
“No, just my girlfriend. Is she off work soon?”
“Yes. She’s clocking out now and is bringing you a burger.”
“She’s the best girlfriend,” Rory said.
Elisa laughed a little at the dreamy expression on Rory’s face and asked, “How long have you two been together?”
“A few months. I met her when Candace opened this place,” Rory replied. “And now, we’re moving in together.”
“Already?” Elisa asked.
A few women at the table laughed, and she wasn’t sure if they were laughing at her comment or at another conversation at the long table.
“We’ve all kind of moved fast,” Jill said. “It started with those two.” She pointed at Melinda and Kyle at the end of the table. “Love at first sight over there set the trend.”
