Page 76 of Pucking Rebound

“I like what I like.” I love Jordy’s paintings. It’s as if they speak to me on a deeper level I can’t quite make sense of.

“How many times today have you been asked how you’re doing?” Piper asks.

“I wish everyone would stop.” We mosey down the largest exhibition room in the gallery, admiring paintings as we head toward the main entrance.

“Awful, huh?”

“But you’re going to ask anyway?”

“I’m not. I already know the answer because you’ll cover up how broken you are initially then finally tell me later via text how much you think all of this is your fault.”

I sigh. “I’m so predictable."

“You are and that’s why I love you.”

I love her too. “I invited myself to your place on Christmas Day.” She was supposed to spend Christmas with me and Graham, which I knew she only suffered through for my benefit. She’ll be happy she never has to spend another minute around him.

“Figured as much. I’m already lining up episodes ofThe Vampire Diariesto torture you with.”

“Great, I can’t wait,” I reply deadpan.

She grabs her long woolen forest green winter coat from her assistant who is standing by the entrance and puts it on, covering her black wiggle dress that fits her like a second skin. Purse next, her assistant passes that to her as well as a chic pair of black oversized glasses.

“Thank you, Lauren,” Piper says.

“We will see you tomorrow,” Lauren replies, standing like a toy soldier waiting for Piper to leave.

“You know me so well, sweetie.” Piper finger waves goodbye, giving me a knowing look that says our lunches always stretch into dinner.

A mix of Graham not liking Piper and vice versa, combined with Graham doing his best to turn me against my best friend, I haven’t had a lot of lunch dates with Piper since I started dating Graham.

“I've been a terrible friend, Piper.”

She removes her fire engine red hair from inside the collar of her coat and stares at me with her piercing green eyes. “No, you haven’t. Do you remember when I dated Nigel and didn’t see you for a year?”

“I remember him. I hated that guy.”

“Well, now we’re even.”

I wish every relationship I had was as easy and dependable as the one I have with Piper.

Lauren pulls open the oversized glass door for us to exit, me first then Piper. She doesn’t give Lauren a backward glance, as we both thank her at the same time.

“So where are we going for lunch?” she asks, hooking the handle of her Prada purse into the crook of her arm.

“Firepit.”

“That’s my favorite place. How did you know?” she asks, faking shock.

“Because I just so happen to know the owner.” Spoiler alert: it’s me.

We step out onto the sidewalk to walk the two minutes to my restaurant, the first one my father ever opened in partnership with Wade’s father.

Our mother really liked to play with fire. Having an affair with my father’s business partner split my mom and dad up, as well as the business partnership. When my father discovered Wade wasn’t his, Wade and I were separated too.

It’s a mess.

But I can’t think about that now.

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