Page 43 of Locke

“You date an orthopedic surgeon,” I point out.

“Who’s still paying for medical school,” she laments, falling into step beside me up the front walk.I’ve got a bottle of Arvendale Pinot and she’s carrying a bottle of champagne.

We reach the front porch and she pauses, tipping her head back to look at the exterior lanterns.“These are gorgeous.Okay.I’m ready.Let’s go meet your new friends.”

I ring the bell.

The door opens almost immediately and Birdie is there in leggings and an oversized pullover with her dark hair piled on top of her head, a glass of wine already in hand.Her eyes move between the two of us with immediate warmth.

“You brought reinforcements,” she says approvingly.

“Birdie, this is my best friend Molly.Molly, Birdie Hale.”

Molly extends her hand and Birdie takes it, but what she actually does is look at the champagne bottle in Molly’s other hand.“I already like you.Come in.”

“That’s all it takes?”Molly asks, stepping through.

“Bubbly on a girls’ night?Absolutely.”

Inside, the house opens immediately with a wide entry, artwork on the walls, and the smell of lemongrass, garlic and chili spice assaulting my nose in the best way possible.Tall windows overlook the backyard veranda and the trees beyond, the pool’s blue light rippling softly through the glass.

“Juno’s in the kitchen massacring a lime,” Birdie announces, already heading that way.

“I heard that,” Juno calls out.

We follow Birdie into the kitchen and find Juno at the granite island with a cutting board, a knife, and four limes that have been cut with more enthusiasm than precision.She’s in a flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up and looks completely at home in Crosby’s kitchen.

“She’s not wrong,” I tell her, setting the wine on the counter.“Those limes have been traumatized.”

“They’re juiced, aren’t they?”Juno says.“That’s the goal.”She looks past me to Molly with an open, easy smile.“Hi, I’m Juno.”

“Molly Baldwin.”Molly sets the champagne down and takes in the kitchen, appreciating a good space.“This house is insane, by the way.Not in a crazy, serial killer way though.”

“Right?”Juno says.“I keep waiting to get used to it.”

Birdie opens the bottle of wine I brought, pouring two glasses before passing them over.

Molly accepts it and takes a sip, humming with appreciation.Her eyes go to the label.“Is that Arvendale?”

“Yeah… I picked up a few bottles.”

Molly looks at me.“When did you go there, you snake?And you didn’t invite me?”

I flush because that’s sort of me and Molly’s thing, and she has no clue I was there with Locke.She doesn’t know anything about Locke for that matter, and I still have to figure out how to handle that, as in what I can and can’t tell her—and there are definitely things to tell her.

“I went last week and Sena loaded me up,” I say vaguely.

“Well, you’re forgiven for going without me since you’re sharing now,” she drawls.

“Thanks, bestie,” I throw back at her.

“So Molly,” Birdie says, settling back against the opposite counter.“How do you know Livia?”

“We grew up together.”

“Both Portland girls,” Juno says with a bright smile.“And what do you do, Molly?”

“I’m an ER nurse at Portland General.”She picks up her wine.“Twelve-hour shifts, rotating schedule, the most interesting and terrible things you’ve ever seen in your life on any given Tuesday.”