Page 64 of The Fangirl and the Playboy

That was…weird.

I forget about the conversation as the shop crowds with people, and business remains steady into the afternoon. When my late-shift barista shows up for his shift, and I can leave knowing the customers will be well taken care of, I pull out my phone to text Gavin.

Me:Hey, I’m done with work. Want to meet up?

I’m out the door and in my car by the time he responds, and I read the message with a frown.

Gavin:Sorry, I can’t tonight. I have some stuff to take care of. Can I see you tomorrow? Or will you have to work again?

I still have all the shifts covered for tomorrow, so I don’t have to actually come in. Biting my lip, I text him back.

Me:Sure.

I really,reallywant to ask him what has him tied up today. Other than me and his deal with Keegan and Pressley, he doesn’t have any business in Evening Shade, right? What else could he possibly be doing?

But I decide not to be that person.

I trust him. I have no reason not to, despite what I believed over the last decade or so.

My phone chimes again, but it’s not another message from Gavin. This one is from Keegan, and I fight the little streak of disappointment I feel as I tap the screen to pull up the text.

Keegan:Get your ass to the tavern tonight. Pressley drove down, and we’re having a girls’ night out!

I bite my lip, reading the message again. That does sound fun, and I haven’t spent as much time as I’d like with Keegan lately. Pressley being here is a bonus.

Me:I’m in. What time are you guys heading over?

Keegan: Seven-thirty.

Me: Perfect. I’ll see you there.

* * *

The tavern is packedwhen I arrive, but that’s the usual for Friday nights. All the tourists are looking for a good meal and a drink after travelling to get here, and Wolfsbane Tavern is one of the Cursed movies’ most famous landmarks.

I spot Keegan and Pressley at the bar, obviously guarding the empty stool between them so I’ll have a place to sit. I wave at Bram as I pass by him, and he jerks his chin in my direction, motioning that he’ll be down with a drink for me in a minute.

The girls cheer as I slide onto the stool, hugging me like they haven’t seen me in weeks. Their drinks are mostly full, and it’s just past seven-thirty, so I know it’s not the alcohol making them so affectionate.

They’re just simply happy to see me, and I have to say, it feels fucking good.

Most of my friends from high school moved away after graduation, and while I do have people I consider friends in this town, I didn’t have people I considerbestfriends until these two showed up in my life. Keegan and I shared an instant connection, and while she was on the outs with Pressley at the time, after they made up, the gorgeous blonde slid seamlessly into our friendship, making us a trio…when she’s in town, at least.

“Bram! Hurry up and bring Willow a drink,” Keegan shouts, leaning across the bar. “We’re celebrating!”

Bram appears in front of us a second later, a fresh pitcher of margaritas in one hand and a clean glass for me in the other. I catch a smile between him and Pressley before he spins around to go help another patron, and I watch her gaze drop to his ass as he leaves.

“Ahem.”

Pressley snaps her attention back to me at the throat clearing, and laughter tinkles out of me. Her crush on Bram has been obvious since they met, and it seems like he has an interest in her, too. I don’t know what’s holding them back from exploring it––

Or maybe I do.

Much like Keegan and Trace before Gavin and me, allowing yourself to pursue someone who doesn’t live near you is scary as hell.

“What are we celebrating?” I ask as I pour myself a drink from the pitcher, eager to stop thinking along those lines.

“Can I tell her?” Keegan asks Pressley, then shakes her head. “No,youtell her.”

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