Page 104 of About that Fling
“So, Jenna,” Shawn said, turning his attention back to the real live humans at the table. “You still seeing that guy?”
Mia cocked her head and gave Jenna an apprising look. “What guy?”
“The guy she hustled out of here to meet up with last time we were here.” He looked pleased with himself for remembering. “Said she owed him an apology for something.”
Beneath the table, Jenna gave Mia’s shin a light tap. At least, she thought it was Mia.
Shawn frowned. “Why’d you just kick me?”
“I didn’t—I—you want some ranch dip?”
“No thank you,” Shawn said, looking down at the breadsticks. “I’ll stick with the marinara. So you’re not seeing anyone right now?”
Seeming to sense Jenna’s need for rescue, Mia jumped in. “Oh, that guy. Yeah, he’s hot.” Mia bit into her breadstick. “How about you, Shawn? You seeing anyone?”
“Nope, no one special. Gotta admit, it’s crossed my mind a time or two that Jenna and I could get back together.”
Jenna bit down on a breadstick, chomping off a bite that was much bigger than she could handle. She chewed hard, wondering if choking to death might be preferable to this conversation. “Uh, that’s sweet, Shawn. I don’t think that’s going to happen, though. There’s something a little uncomfortable about reconnecting with an ex, you know?”
“Tell me about it,” Mia muttered, dunking her breadstick in the marinara. “I’ve been working with mine, and I’ve gotta tell you, it’s awkward as hell.”
Shawn laughed. “More awkward than having pizza with one?”
“I’ll defer to Jenna on that.” Mia sighed and bit into her breadstick. “You know in hindsight, I should have taken him up on his offer to turn down the contract.”
Jenna gulped down the last of her root beer, and wished for a meteor to fall on the table and end this conversation.
The meteor came in the form of two extra-large pizzas.
“One sausage and pepperoni with olives, one veggie-licious with prosciutto?”
“Right here,” Jenna said, gathering up a pile of napkins to make room on their table. She shot the server a grateful look, wondering if she’d ever been so happy at the sight of a pizza.
“Need any parmesan or hot pepper?”
“Both, please.”
Mia reached up to take the stack of plates the waitress offered under the assumption the huge quantity of cheese and meat was intended to feed a dozen people instead of a pregnant newlywed, her guilt-ridden friend, and the friend’s unsuspecting ex.
“God, this looks amazing,” Shawn said. “You’re sure you don’t mind if I join you?”
“Does it look like there’s going to be any shortage of food here?” Mia reached for a slice. “If you want, you can share your pizza with us whenever it gets here. Might as well enjoy this one while it’s hot.”
“Thanks, ladies.” Shawn frowned. “Hey, isn’t that your Aunt Gertie?”
Jenna jerked her head up and blinked. It did indeed look like Gertie, weaving her way through the crowd with her white hair rustling in the breeze from the overhead fans. She seemed to be scanning the room for someone, or maybe an empty table. There were none in sight.
Jenna looked back at Mia. “I thought you just texted to ask what she was up to.”
“I did,” she said, glancing at her phone. “She never responded. I didn’t even tell her where we were.”
Shawn stood up. “Want me to wave her down?”
“Yeah, she looks a little lost.”
He stood—all six feet three inches of him—and waved his arms in the air. “Gertrude? Aunt Gertie! Over here!”
Gertie turned and blinked, then smiled. She began weaving her way toward them, threading past tables packed with families and frat boys devouring fragrant masses of meat and cheese. Jenna watched her aunt’s progress, not sure why she felt a faint sense of unease.
