“Well, given that she also said and I quote ‘I swear if she’s pregnant, I am going to lose it,’ I would say that’s a fair assessment.”

  “I’m coming over there. I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to before now. It’s been a hell of a day.”

  “And getting better, it seems.”

  He chuckles and I hear him telling his assistant that he’s stepping out for lunch and will be back, and to let him know if she needs anything.

  “This is not how I wanted to spend my time there. I wanted to stare at the gorgeous new girl that works there and flirt with her, not deal with the wicked witch of Milan.” He sighs. “Fuck. I shouldn’t have said that. I…shouldn’t talk about her like that in front of you.”

  I frown. “Why?”

  “I don’t know…because…”

  “I think in this situation I can be the woman you’re sleeping with and not your son’s friend that lives next door, don’t you think?” I turn around again, before turning back to face the street. “Look she cornered my mother, but I should get back in.”

  “See you in five.”

  “Okay.”

  “In case I can’t tell you when I see you, you look beautiful today.”

  I fucking melt. “Bye Theo.” I giggle.

  Theo looks so good it hurts to not stare at him when he steps into the café. He’s wearing a white button-down and navy slacks, and I wanted to rip them off right the fuck now.

  “Oh. Well, good news travels fast!” Rebecca’s eyes fall to mine and she gives me a fake smile that I give right back. I am still standing with her as my mom goes back to work but for the past five minutes, she’s just been scrolling on her phone as she shows me pictures of shit I care nothing about and people I don’t know.

  “I was just confused as to why Lucas didn’t tell me you were coming to town,” I explain.

  “Let’s not place false blame here,” Theo starts. “Why didn’t you tell anyone you were coming? You know your son is moving to New York tomorrow. Odd time for mother-son bonding?” Theo blinks at her and she pulls her to-go cup of cappuccino to her lips.

  “Hello to you too, Theodore.” She smiles. “For your information, I felt so far and out of the loop.”

  “What else is new?” He snaps and I realize it is definitely my cue to leave.

  “You know, you guys can have this table.” I grab my laptop, my notebook, and my iced coffee. “Theo, can I bring you something?”

  He doesn’t even look at me as he speaks. “Uh, yeah. Coffee would be great.”

  I nod. “Rebecca, anything else?”

  “Oh no, honey. Thank you.” She takes my seat and Theo sits across from her. I move away not wanting any part of that.

  “What is that about?” My mother asks as she peers at them over the counter.

  “None of them knew she was coming.”

  “You called Theo?” She asks me.

  “I texted all three of them in a group chat—him, Lucas, and Raegan and he called me,” I explain.

  “Hmm. Well, why do you think she’s in town?”

  “Supposedly, ‘to spend time with her children,’” I say using air quotes.

  “A little late for that, no? I mean never too late to spend time with people but…she’s got quite a few years of making up to do. And isn’t Lucas leaving tomorrow?” I pull my mother into the back office, knowing that the girls can handle the front for now.

  “Okay, you cannot repeat this to anyone.”

  “I won’t! Oh, you’ve got tea!” My mom’s hazel eyes light up as she claps her hands together.

  “I’m only telling you because…well, I don’t know why I’m telling you, because you’re a gossip!”

  She puts her hands on her hips and narrows her eyes into slits. “I am not.”

  “Okay, evidently Laura Wilder, you know Natasha’s mom?”

  “Yes, yes of course! Pops pills like Tic Tacs,” she says waving her hands as if to say okay out with it.

  “Mom!”

  “Well! Go on!”

  I roll my eyes. “Apparently, she told Rebecca that Raegan’s boyfriend has a ring. She called Theo hysterical when the three of us were out at brunch last weekend. So, I feel like that’s why she’s here.” I leave out the part about Raegan being pregnant because that is definitely not my place to tell.

  “Ooooh.” She nods and puts her hands on her cheeks. “A ring. Wow. So, I guess they’re serious.”

  “I don’t know the details. I don’t think he’s planning to propose tomorrow but…I suppose it’s in the works. Now, don’t go spreading that around.”

  “If Laura knows, I’m sure I’ll hear it from Macey at tennis.” She pulls out her phone and I immediately grab it from her hands.

  “Okay well, don’t you go spreading it. Come on, Mom, they know if they hear anything about the Graham family from you it’s true because you have a reliable source.”

  “Fine.” She zips her lips before unzipping them. “Except your dad.” She zips them again and I chuckle before following her out.

  Fuck, Theo’s coffee. I quickly make him a cup and take him the cream and sugar as well and I see the conversation is not going over well based on their body language.

  “I wasn’t sure how you took it so I brought—”

  “Black is fine,” he says and I nod. Okay, then.

  “Right, well, I’m going to step out for a minute, so if you need anything just ummm…” I point at the girls. “They can help you.”

  “Always good to see you, Avery.” Rebecca stands and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “I hope I see you before I leave.”

  “I—maybe!”

  I look at Theo who has just now looked at me and gives me a curt nod. “See you later, Avery.” He waves and I make my way into the back to grab my bag. “Mom, I’m going to survey the block, I’ll be back,” I tell her. Once every couple of weeks, I like to walk through the city and see what the competition is doing. Main Street is several blocks long so I’m hoping I can be gone long enough that my situationship and his ex-wife will have dispersed by the time I get back.

  What was that anyway? He barely looked at me.

  You know that was about Rebecca. Not about you.

  Still.

  Relax. Stop overthinking. He told you that you looked beautiful five minutes prior and he ate your ass last night. He’s still interested.

  My phone vibrates before I’m even at the end of the block.

  TG: I’m sorry. Forgive me.

  I contemplate letting him wait for a response for about half of a second before I realize I don’t want to play games and I really want to know what he’s thinking.

  Me: Care to tell me what that was about?

  TG: I don’t know how well Rebecca can still read me. I didn’t want her to see anything in the way I looked at you. She is the last person I want in my business about anything. Let alone about you.

  I tilt my head to the side because the reasoning does make sense.

  TG: But I’m sorry. I suddenly couldn’t remember how I used to act around you. All I could think about was the past week.

  Me: Okay. Understood.

  TG: Do you really?

  Me: Yes

  TG: Alright.

  Me: Is she still there?

  TG: Yes. On the phone.

  Me: Is she staying with you while she’s in town?

  TG: What do you think?

  Me: I don’t know!

  TG: She didn’t stay with me when our kids lived there, you think she will now?

  Me: Okay.

  TG: I feel like this should go without saying since you’ve been around a minute and you know my relationship with her is less than pleasant, but you have nothing to worry about in regards to Rebecca.

  Me: I’m not worried

  TG: Good. You shouldn’t. No one should worry you.

  I narrow my eyes at his words, not wanting to read too much into it but also wanting clarification because that sounds like something a man would tell his girlfriend, not the woman he’s casually sleeping with.

  Not casual. This is serious. I can practically hear Theo saying in my ear.

  TG: Tell me something good.

  I smile at this question that he’s asked before. I think about it for a second before I type out a response.

  Me: I had a lot of fun last night.

  TG: So did I. How about something that doesn’t have to do with how much I made you come?

  I giggle and roll my eyes.

  Me: Well my first day is going well. I really love working with my mom and being a part of the business that she built from the ground up.

  TG: I’m really glad to hear that. I’m sure she’s happy you’re there.

  My phone starts to ring and I half expect it to be Theo when I see it’s Raegan.

  “Hey.”

  “Oh my God. Does she know I’m pregnant?” She basically screams and I have to pull the phone away from my ear.

  “I don’t think so.” I wince. “I’m not sure if your dad is telling her? I left the café. It is frosty in there.”

  “I’ll bet. My parents are like cats in a bag. She texted Lucas and me that she wants to have dinner with us.” She groans. “Lucas is pissed because he doesn’t want to deal with this on his last night at home. He wanted to have dinner with you, me, and dad.”

  “I know.”

  “Maybe you and dad should come.”

  I chuckle nervously because absolutely not. “Uhhh…”

  “Come on, I’m bringing Wes.”

  “Really?”

  “Sure. He knows about all my mommy issues and he never lets anyone bully me and he knows how manipulative my mother can be. I need my guard dog.” She giggles. “Besides, if I bring him, she’s less likely to be too unhinged.” She sighs. “Which is whyyyy you should come!”

  “No thanks, Rae, I’m good.”

  “Ughhhh.” She groans. “I knew I shouldn’t have called her.”

  “Wait, you talked to her?” I ask confused.

  “I called her after I found out she called Dad. I told her that it was true and Wes does have a ring but that it isn’t happening tomorrow. I should have known she would take that to mean it was time for her to hop on a plane and come make my life difficult.”

  “Are you going to tell her you’re pregnant while she’s here?”

  “I suppose that depends on how she acts at dinner.”

  My phone starts to buzz indicating I’m getting a call and it’s the one I’ve been expecting. “Call you back, your brother is calling.”

  “Oh good, maybe he’ll convince you to come!” I roll my eyes before clicking over.

  “Don’t ask, the answer is no,” I say as soon as I answer the phone without giving him a chance to speak. I’m still walking down the block, but I decide to stop and sit on a bench.

  Lucas chuckles. “And you claim to love me.”

  “Not that much.”

  “It’s my last night in town, Avery!”

  “You aren’t moving across the planet. You’ll be an hour train ride away. I’ll come visit in a few weeks.”

  “Not the point!”

  “Lucas, I’m not coming to dinner with you and Rae and your mom and maybe your dad? No.”

  “Why? You’re practically family.”

  I wince thinking about the very not family-like things I’ve been doing with his father the past few years. “And I love that you want me to feel included, but no.” Even if I didn’t already feel like it wasn’t my place, there is a zero percent chance, I’m going to willingly have dinner with Theo and his ex-wife.

  “Wes is coming,” Lucas offers.

  “Wes is in a relationship with your sister.”

  “And you’re my best friend,” he argues.

  “This family dinner is about said relationship, Lucas. It makes sense for Wes to be there.”

  He huffs. “I would do it for you.”

  “I wouldn’t ask and also Camille Summers resents the comparison to your mother,” I say because even on my mother’s worst day, she could never be like Rebecca.

  “Ave, in all seriousness…” He pauses. “Please.”

  I sigh, remembering what it was like becoming friends with Lucas fresh off his parents’ divorce and witnessing that trauma firsthand through his eyes. Rebecca packed up and left Raegan and Lucas in the midst of turmoil at the beginning of their teenage years to go traveling around the world with calls once a week and a bi-annual visit that usually left Raegan in tears.

  I definitely didn’t want to go to dinner with Theo and his ex-wife, but I’d go to dinner with Lucas and his parents because I’ve always been there for him over this. Feeling abandoned and unloved by your mother isn’t something I understand on any level, but I’ve tried my best to be there and listen. As of late, I probably haven’t been the best friend to Lucas with everything going on with Theo, but I still care about him. He’s not only been my best friend for eight years but he’s also my person and although things are slowly shifting, I suddenly feel desperate to hang on to this part of our friendship that made us more like family.

  “Okay, I’ll be there.” I sigh. “Text me the details.”

  TG: Heard you got roped into this shitshow tonight.

  Me: Not how I expected to spend my Friday night haha

  TG: I’m sorry.

  Me: It’s okay. Lucas asked me to.

  TG: I’m sorry if I can’t be as attentive as I want to be with you tonight.

  Me: Theo, it’s fine. I get it.

  TG: I don’t.

  Me: What do you mean?

  TG: Nothing, I’ll see you soon. Do you want to ride with me and Lucas?

  Me: No, that’s okay. I’m going to drive myself. It will also keep me sober in case I have to drive any of you home

  TG: As much as Rebecca makes me want to drink, I need to keep that in check. The last thing I need is to have one too many and spend the night staring at you like I want to fuck you.

  Me: Yes, keep your eyes in check, Theo.

  TG: I’ll try my best. See you at eight

  After a few moments of staring at our conversation, I text him again.

  Me: Hey

  TG: Yes?

  Me: Tell me something good.

  He doesn’t respond right away and I read over the conversation again, wondering what he meant by I don’t. What’s there not to get? I contemplate this thought, obsessing over it the entire way to the restaurant as I try to calm my nerves and convince myself that there is absolutely nothing sexy about seeing Theo tonight. I opt to wear black flowy pants and a high-neck sleeveless black backless top, trying not to show too much skin so Theo doesn’t have to struggle with keeping his eyes off of me. I get to the restaurant with about ten minutes to spare and see I have a message from Theo.

  TG: I can’t stop thinking about you.

  Me: Neither can I.

  I’m beaming at my phone when I hear Lucas’ voice as soon as I enter the lobby so I put my phone away.

  “Hey, they sat us already,” he says as he pulls me into a hug. He’s wearing a black polo and dark blue jeans and I’m suddenly very grateful that I didn’t dress up too much. “Just wanted to make sure you knew where to find us.”

  “Is everyone here?”

  “Hell no. My mom will probably be at least thirty minutes late and Raegan will be either right on time or a little late herself. It’s just me and Dad.”

  Awesome.

  “Okay.” I reach for his arm as he goes to walk away and tug on it gently. “You okay?”

  “Yeah.” He shrugs. “I was just thinking I haven’t seen my mom in almost two years. That can’t be right?” He narrows his eyes. “I remember last year she came to New York for Fashion Week in September and we somehow missed each other.” He shrugs. “It’s always got to be on her terms though, right?”

  I wince, remembering that. He wasn’t dying to see her or anything but I remember hearing the disappointment in his voice when she told him that she was “swamped while she was in town” and that he should definitely come to Italy over winter break. “Lucas…”

  “I’m glad you’re here.” He gives me a smile before he ushers me in front of him towards our table, guiding me with his hand on the small of my bare back to a private room. It’s a round table and I see Theo sitting and scrolling through his phone. His eyes lift to meet mine when I walk in and I give him a small smile as Lucas takes the seat next to him.

  “You look very nice, Avery.” He’s a little more dressed up than Lucas, in a button-down and slacks and I try not to focus too much on the skin exposed from where he left a few buttons undone.

  “Thank you.” I smile, trying my best not to swoon in front of Lucas.

  “Yeah, you do. I rarely see you in pants during the summer.” Lucas chuckles before he takes a sip of what I think is bourbon.

  I sit on the other side of Lucas and we have a few moments of silence before Theo breaks it.

  “Your sister said they will be here in five. Any word from your mother?” Theo looks at Lucas in question and Lucas rolls his eyes.

  “She said ten minutes, but I’d bet a million dollars she hasn’t left her hotel yet.”

  “Alright, no one is less pleased about this than me, but she’s here and she’s your mother. Don’t spend the whole dinner making jabs at her.” Theo lightly scolds.

  Lucas scoffs. “How is that a jab? That’s a fact.”

  “You know what I’m saying Luke.” Theo gives him a look and Lucas rolls his eyes before taking another sip of his drink.

  “Fine, whatever.”

  The door opens and Raegan walks in with a tall man at her side. He has sandy brown hair, a little peppered with gray, and blue eyes behind sleek square frames. I’ve never met Wes; I’ve only seen pictures, but he is definitely better looking in person.

  Yep, I definitely have a thing for older men.

  “Dad, Lucas, you remember Wes.” She points at him and they both shake his hand and extend polite pleasantries before she turns to me. “This is Avery, Lucas’ and my childhood friend. More Lucas though. They’ve always been attached at the hip. She’s his buffer,” she whispers loudly, causing Lucas to shoot her a look.

  I stand and hold out my hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Raegan has had nothing but lovely things to say about you.” He shakes my hand and gives me a warm smile revealing dimples on each cheek.