Page 121 of Best Served Cold

“Because of that call from Lilah?”

He shrugs, his expression helpless. “I don’t know. It’s just a gut feeling, but I’m having a hard time shaking it.”

Storm’s coming.

For the rest of the day, that phrase keeps repeating in my head, and it stays with me as I go to bed. If I were a more superstitious man, I’d say it’s downright ominous.

CHAPTER THIRTY

SOPHIE

“You’re sure it’s her?” I ask Hannah.

“Yes, I used a Google image search, and the article I’d seen popped up.”

“Smart women do foolish things all the time,” Briar says resignedly. “Look at us.”

The smart woman in question is Nora Leigh, the brewer at The Ginger Station. Hannah had recognized her because she’d seen an article about her inGet Localmagazine. Female brewers are few and far between.

We’ve spent the last several minutes discussing Nora. Hannah, Briar, and I are at Buchanan Brewery. It’s closed today, but Dylan told me I could bring them by for a taste test. I poured each of us flights of all six NA cocktails I’ve been working on. My friends are sitting across from me in high-top chairs, and I’m standing on the other side of the bar, anxiously awaiting their opinions on my drinks.

I’ve felt edgy all day, as if something’s squirming just beneath my skin.You’re falling in love with Rob, a voice inside of me whispers.It’s too fast. He’s going to change his mind. He’s going to realize his family’s more important than you, even though Jonah sucks.

I’ve tried to quiet the voice that has been telling me for years that nothing could possibly make up for the harm I’ve caused. For being the child who cost her family so much money and stress.

I wouldn’t willingly admit this to anyone, but before my friends showed up at Buchanan, I spent several minutes poring over the texts Rob’s sent me over the past few days, trying to convince myself that I’m not imagining things. That he really cares about me.

“You seem distracted,” Briar comments. “Is it because of Nora?”

“Nah,” Hannah says. “She’s not hung up on the genius Jonah tricked into dating him. She’s thinking about Rob’s dick.” She lifts one of the little glasses as if to cheer me on. She doesn’t take a sip, though, which sets me on edge. What if they hate my drinks? What if they’re bad? She’s spent years working at Big Catch. She knows what people like. She’ll know whether or not Dottie and I have been wasting our time.

“I’d probably be distracted too,” she continues. “It’s been a while since I’ve had any.”

“Since Jonah?” Briar asks.

Hannah huffs a laugh. “Yeah, right. I took home a one-night stand the night I found out. I needed a palate cleanser, just like I told Sophie to find one. But Sophie being Sophie, she had to fall madly in?—”

“I’m not in love with him,” I lie. “It’s only been, I mean…a month ago I didn’t even like him.”

“But you still must have secretly wondered what he looks like naked, right? I mean, he’s a looker.”

“No! Wait, doyousecretly wonder what Rob looks like naked?”

“Yes,” Hannah says carelessly, “but not because I want to sleep with him. I secretly wonder what everyone looks likenaked. It’s the great equalizer, don’t you think? Without clothes on, you can’t hide anything.”

“Except for a black soul,” Briar says darkly.

Hannah waves one of the tiny drink glasses at her, the Sunshine Spritzer, the one I’m proudest of. “Yeah, but you said you can see auras.”

“It’s an imperfect science.” From the small smile on Briar’s face, she’s obviously trying to needle Hannah.

I feel a swell of fondness for both of them, but I narrow my focus on Hannah, because she’s finally trying the drink.

“There’s no alcohol in these?” Hannah asks, eyebrows nearly to her hairline.

“Not a drop. What do you think?”

“It’s good. Really good,” she says, eyes gleaming with approval. “They’d be even better if you poured some vodka in them, but?—”

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