Page 16 of Like First Love, Again

“You want a drink?” Mia asked when Tori sat in a white canvas deck chair.

At least there wasn’t music and the noise of a hundred conversations outside—just half-a-dozen guys vaping. Guys Mia assumed were dates who’d also gotten overwhelmed by the chaos inside.

“I can get it. What’ll you have?” Tori replied in the tone she’d used when Mia walked into her agency.

All at once, Mia understood why Tori seemed so at ease. She was wearing her work persona like a Halloween costume.

“You sit,” Mia insisted, wanting Tori to drop the act for a few minutes. To give herself a rest. “What do you want?”

Tori’s shoulders relaxed, and Mia knew she’d nagged in the right direction. “Anything.”

With a smirk, Mia confirmed, “Anything?”

Knowing her too well, Tori chuckled. “Anything that’snottequila.”

Mia booed before turning on her heels and starting for the unattended bar and the row of massive marine coolers behind it. Deciding against the hangover-producing hard alcohol lined up on the bar, Mia opened the first cooler to inspect its contents.

“I’ve never gotten orange-flavored beer,” a man said when Mia picked a bottle out of the ice to see what it was. “It just seems wrong, you know?”

Mia looked up at him and shrugged. She couldn’t say that she’d ever formed an opinion about beer in her life. It mostly all tasted fine to her.

“Sorry, um, that was a terrible line.” He smiled, cheeks turning a cute shade of pink. “I think you’re not supposed to open on a negative.”

Mia straightened and returned the smile to put the poor guy at ease. “Are you taking a crash course on how to talk to strangers?” She opened the next cooler.

He shifted his weight and cringed. “It’s actually a dating class.” His skin flamed bright red. “Here’s another thing I’m not supposed to say. My name is Paul and I’m dating for the first time in fifteen years.” His laugh was riddled with nerves. “Because I’m recently divorced,” he added, like Mia would otherwise think he’d been in prison.

“You don’t look nearly old enough for that,” Mia said, intending a compliment. “Were you a child bride?” She pulled a wine bottle from the ice before holding out her empty hand. “I’m Mia and I’m in the middle of a divorce,” she said, because it was all but technically true.

Paul relaxed like he’d been holding his breath. “We were high school sweethearts,” he explained. “You?”

“College,” she replied. “It’s cute when you’re the first of your friends to get marriedandthe first to get divorced.”

“Right?” He grabbed a plastic wine cup. “There should be a prize for that.”

“You mean you want more than the crippling shame?” she joked, but didn’t hand over the bottle when Paul offered. Instead, she reached for a second cup and put them both on the bar to pour two glasses.

When Mia turned, she realized three girls Tori had played basketball with had found her outside. Ashley had pulled one of the chairs as close as possible to Tori. Her expression was incredibly animated and her mouth was moving so fast.

What the hell are they talking about?

Without being able to see Tori’s face, Mia couldn’t tell whether she wanted the company. She rushed to splash too much wine in each cup so Tori wouldn’t be stuck making small talk on her own.

“We should start a support group,” Paul joked, but Mia didn’t take her eyes off Tori.

“They say it’s like riding a bike,” she tossed behind her, glasses in hand and moving to where all the patio chairs were annoyingly taken. “Keep getting up if you fall on your face!”

Paul said something in return, but Mia didn’t catch it. Her attention was on Ashley, sitting unnecessarily close to Tori.

“Only the best Publix chard for you,” Mia said before presenting Tori with the generously poured glass.

When Tori started to stand, Mia put a hand on her shoulder. She was tempted to sit in her lap like she used to, but resisted the urge. Something about Ashley was throwing Mia off.

“What are we talking about?” Mia asked with a mostly genuine smile.

“I was just asking T about Jen,” Ashley replied, before taking a sip of beer.

T?Mia bristled at the unnecessary shortening of what was already a freaking nickname.

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