Page 70 of Finally Loved

“I know,” Alba said sympathetically. “And I’m sure you’ll continue to until the moment where it suddenly gets really good and everything just makes sense.”

“Why does dating have to be so hard?”

“You’re asking me?” Alba replied pointedly.

“Yeah, okay, fair point. What was I thinking? You’re even worse than I am.”

“Rude. But hey, if you’re back to insulting me so readily, that must mean you’re already feeling better about this whole thing.”

“I can confirm I am not.”

Alba laughed, but, before she could reply, a shadow fell across the table and her lunch. She looked up at the figure standing across from her and frowned. “Zainab, I’ve gotta call you back. Charlie’s here.”

“Charlie is?” Zainab replied, startled.

“Apparently so.”

“Well… Good luck, I guess? Text me after.”

“Will do.”

She hung up the call, watching Charlie with interest.

As far as Neve had told her, the two of them hadn’t spoken since the night of their argument. Alice had made a couple of attempts to smooth things over, but they’d been pitiful in comparison to what happened. As far as Alba could tell, Charlie hadn’t tried anything.

Well, anything other than showing up at Alba’s workplace. She hadn’t even known Charlie knew where she worked.

“Alba,” Charlie said, her voice clipped.

“Charlie.”

“How are you doing?” Her voice was so stiff, it barely sounded like a question.

“If you’re looking to contract someone, I don’t think I’m your go-to person.” Alba waved a hand in the direction of her office.

“I’m not here for that.”

“Good to know. To be honest, I didn’t know you even knew where I worked. A little bit weird just showing up, don’t you think?” She watched Charlie pointedly as she finished up her food.

Charlie shifted. Her expression was furrowed, like she was trying to be intimidating, perhaps, but her gaze jumped to and from Alba so frequently as to completely undermine the attempt.

She didn’t speak again, so, once Alba was done with her food, she cleared her throat and said, “So, are you going to tell me what youarehere for, or are you just going to scowl at me until I go back to work?”

“I want to talk about Neve,” she finally said, her voice still hard.

“No, thank you,” Alba replied with a serene smile. She wasn’t particularly bothered if it antagonized Charlie.

Charlie’s jaw twitched. “She isn’t talking to me.”

Alba studied her. “And you’re surprised? After what you did?”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Mm. Right, because everyone treats all of their friends the way you’ve been treating Neve, and then yells in their faces and insults them.”

Charlie’s hands clenched and she took a steadying breath. “Perhaps I said some things I shouldn’t have, but she shouldn’t just be ignoring me.”

Alba shot her a deadly look. “I don’t think it’s your business to be deciding what Neve should and shouldn’t be doing.”

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