Page 10 of Let's Call a Truce
I didn’t blame them, but we’d naturally drifted apart over the past two years. We still texted now and then, but our schedules didn’t line up. They were getting together for a cup of coffee after school drop-off, and I was pushing Clara and Sophie out of the car at a rolling stop to get to work on time.
Asia fit all our socializing around my kids’ schedules, drinks on my couch while the girls finished their homework, chatting at my kid’s games and recitals, gossiping over lunch in the break room. She understood how packed my schedule was, and every time I felt guilty about how much she accommodated us, she responded the same way: “Let me use my perpetually single status for something positive. I have flexibility you don’t.”
After a hard day like today, having her here made all the difference.
Asia popped the cork out of a bottle of wine as she walked over to the couch. “Your parents are still good to babysit tomorrow night?”
“Of course. We’re all set for your birthday extravaganza.” A few friends in my backyard probably wouldn’t qualify for the term, but I was going for enthusiasm. “The girls are sleeping at my parents’ place so we don’t have to worry about them waking up and interrupting us. My friend dropped off the projector screen. We’ve got more bottles of wine than people, comfy chairs, blankets for out back, andWhat’s Love Got to Do With It?rented and ready to go. Is it still just us and Dani?”
Asia’s younger sister had become one of my close friends, too. They had such a beautiful friendship, and I could only hope one day my girls would have a similar relationship.
Asia chewed on her lip. “About tomorrow…”
I sat in the silence, waiting for whatever shoe Asia was about to drop.
“Here’s the thing,” she went on. “I know I said I wanted agirls’ night here, and you did so much and got a whole setup and my favorite movie, but Dani brought up how I’ve been so busy with work and my side gig that I haven’t gotten to dance for myself in a while. And I hate making you cancel the stuff you worked on to do something you hate instead, but it did sound like fun.” She ended with a half smile, half grimace.
I groaned through my laughter. “I don’t hate dancing. I hate dancing with Dani.”
The first and last time I danced in front of Danielle Taylor was in my living room when, for “fun,” Asia led us in one of the workout dance routines she taught on the weekends. Dani had spent the whole hour cackling over my lack of rhythm. I was equal parts embarrassed and exhausted by the end. The workout was a success, even if my dancing wasn’t.
“If you can get Dani to keep her comments to herself, I’m in,” I said with a laugh.
“Are you sure?” Asia asked, that abused lip back between her teeth.
“Of course.”
“Okay, good. I’ve set up a reservation at this amazing restaurant downtown, and then we’ll head to the club!”
I chose not to point out how quickly those plans seemed to come together when she was just asking if I was okay with the change.
“Since we’re going out, I opened it up. We’ll have a handful of friends from my college years whom you haven’t met yet. Plus my team from KMG.”
I did laugh then, since this plan was clearly so far past its conception it might as well have been a teenager.
Asia scrunched up her face and gave a remorseful shrug before plowing on. “And my cousin Zac will be there.”
“Oh, the hot one?”
She rolled her eyes at that. “Yes, the hot one, but you know he’s not the brightest.”
“I didn’t say I was going to marry him, but it’s good to know I’ll have a nice view.”
“He won’t be the only nice one to look at.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me.
My smile fell right along with my stomach. I leaned back on the couch, arms crossed and face set in a scowl. “Asia.”
Asia laughed, and I groaned.
“Why the hell would you invite Ben?”
“Interesting that you jumped straight from ‘nice one to look at’ to Ben. Just saying,” she said with a cheeky smile. “He’s coming because he’s one of my best friends, too, and I’ve told you both several times I’m not choosing between you. You can tolerate each other for one night for me, right?”
The only downside of my friendship with Asia was her mind-boggling friendship with Ben. I would never understand why this wonderful woman chose to waste her time on such a pompous ass. But she constantly showed up for me, so I’d find a way to make it through one evening without biting his head off. Probably.
“Dinner, dancing, and my mortal enemy,” I replied, lifting my glass in salute. “What a perfect night.”
Chapter 4
