Page 46 of Never With You
“And cute,” Emma says under her breath.
“He’s just leaving.” I pretend like I didn’t hear her and hope that Nate didn’t either, but his pompous smile makes me feel like her compliment is already making its way to his ego. “Let’s get the box of swag out of your car.”
Blair scoots my chair out a little. “Are you hungry?”
“He’s not hungry.”
“I actually am a little hungry.” Nate sits down inmyseat.
MY SEAT.
The look I give him is lethal. “What are you doing? You’re not staying.” I turn to my friends. “He’s not staying.”
“Oh, he can stay for a little bit.” Camila waves me off. “We were just about to order.”
I blink back at my friends in pure shock.
This can’t be happening.
My work nemesis has hijacked dinner, and there’s nothing I can do about it. And the worst part is, there’s no girl code with my friends. I mean, there is on the important stuff—they have my back—but trivial things? Nothing is off limits. I will be thrown under the bus in a matter of thirty seconds—it’s the group’s love language.
I plop down in the chair next to him, the one at the end of the table, and wait for my demise.
“So you’re the guy that gets under Carly’s skin at work?” Juliet leans forward.
“Under her skin, huh?” He switches our water cups, knowing full well he stole my spot.
“Yes, why don’t you two get along?” Blair asks.
“Who said Carly and I don’t get along?”
“She did,” Emma retorts.
“We don’t always see eye to eye at work. Carly is more particular than I am. But if I mute her, I think she could be a ten out of ten.” He shoots me the smirkiest smile that ever existed, and despite not being a violent person, I’d like to jab my fork in his ribs.
“Particular. That’s a good way of describing her,” Camila says.
Here it comes.
Emma places her chin on her hand, like a therapist unpeeling all his layers. “Are you really that awful or just driving Carly crazy on purpose?”
Blair’s shoulders lift as she reaches for her drink. “Maybe beauty and brains scare you. Carly is a lot to handle.”
“Helloooo! I’m right here.”
“She is a lot to handle,” Nate commiserates.
“You know what’s great about being friends with her, though?” Juliet pauses, and I’m scared of what might come out of her mouth. “I never have to carry a bag. I know she’ll have one and can hold my stuff.”
“So true!” everyone agrees.
Okay, if that’s the worst they have on me, this might be fine.
“I stopped packing sunblock when we go to the pool,” Emma adds.
“She used to make all our beds in college while we were at class.” Camila looks around the table. “Do you guys remember that? We called her the bed fairy.”
“What about when we’re on vacations and she unpacks my bags and puts my clothes in drawers for me?” Blair laughs.
