Page 25 of Composed
“Yes,” Riley replies simply.
Talia spears Riley with a steely gaze and I hide my grin behind my glass.
“Anyway, not the point of this meeting.”
“I thought it was just Friday night drinks?” I ask.
Talia ignores me as she leans over me to talk to Riley. “I called it because our good friend Hendrix over here has been keeping secrets.”
“Oh, here we go.” I down my drink.
Riley taps her fingers on the table. “Hendrix has no secrets.”
Talia smirks. “If that’s true, then pray tell why we didn’t know about her so-called friendship with Cole Hayes.”
I roll my eyes, before scanning the crowd for a server.
“He’s not her friend,” Riley says matter-of-factly.
I fold my arms over my chest and cock a smug brow at Talia.
But then, Riley drops a bombshell, “He was her boyfriend,” and I reel back, my head bouncing off the leather.
Talia curses. “He was what?!”
“How do you know that?” I ask Riley.
She readjusts her ear defenders. “I saw the picture in your bedside drawers last year when I was grabbing your charger for you.”
“There’s a picture in the drawers?” Talia gapes, eyes lit up. “And what is this picture of?”
My cheeks sting and I sink deeper into the cushion.
“She’s on his lap, guitar in her hands, they’re kissing,” Riley says. “It’s quite steamy actually. Hands. Everywhere.”
Good God. End me now.
“Oh this is so juicy.” Talia cackles, pushing off the table. She points at me. “Don’t even think about running off. I’m getting more drinks, and then I expect details. All of them!”
She shoots off and leaves silence in her wake like the tornado she is.
I turn to Riley, who watches me with a frown, a muscle in cheek jumping. “Was I not supposed to say that?”
“It’s fine.” I chuckle.
If there’s one thing I’ll never do, it’s have a go at Riley for her blurting things aloud. Social cues don’t come easy to her. I’m honestly just surprised she hasn’t said anything before now.
“Why did you never ask me about it?”
She flicks the spinner in her hand, gaze locked on the whizzing wheel. “You’d tell me if you wanted to. It’s the only reason I said something now. I thought with Talia asking, you must have mentioned it to her. I wouldn’t have said anything if I knew.”
“God, I love you.” I press my pinkie finger to hers and the corner of her mouth tilts up. “It’s rare to find a friend who just lets you be. Case in point…”
I choke on a laugh as Talia shoves through the crowd, a tray tight in her hands, loaded with our usual drinks and a few-too-many shot glasses filled with black liquid. “I’m so not making it through tonight unscathed.”
Liquid splashes against the metal as she places it down.
I clench my teeth. “Did you really need to get twelve shots?”
