Page 94 of Perfect Distraction
Lauren still felt a little weird talking about Andrew openly at work but tried to ignore the niggling sensation of unease. These were her friends, and everything was out in the open between the three of them. Plus, they currently sat in the noisy café and no one paid them any attention. “Same, actually. We’re stopping by the Valentine’s party at Children’s, but then I’m going to try to make Andrew dinner.”
Emma curled her lip in mock disgust. “Is this what happens when you fall in love? Things get boring?”
Kiara smirked and took a drink of water. “Nothing boring about naked dinner and a movie.”
“Naked?” Emma trilled. “You definitely did not say that the first time.”
“Didn’t I?”
Lauren laughed at her friends, choosing not to involve herself in the direction the conversation had gone. She dipped a French fry in ketchup. “I actually wanted your opinion on what I should wear,” she said. “Be honest…do you think I can pull off pink?”
Emma winced, and Kiara looked away, scratching the back of her neck.
Lauren took no offense, as that had been her initial thought, too. “Can I show you?” She unlocked her phone and pulled up a selfie she’d taken in the dressing room. “It’s not like a bright pink, and I thought it wasn’t too bad…”
Emma grabbed the phone and her eyes went wide. “Wow.”
Kiara leaned over to look. “Hot damn. Who would have thought? You make that sweater look good.”
Lauren grinned. “Thanks, girls.” Pleased, she put her phone away and pointed at Emma. “What about you? Any Valentine’s plans?”
Emma’s face turned red, and she shrugged. “Maybe.”
Lauren and Kiara snapped to attention.
“You do!”
“With whom?”
Emma scrunched her nose. “I’ve been flirting with this guy at the gym for weeks, and last week he finally asked for my number. We’ve been talking on the phone for at least an hour every night, and he asked if he could take me to dinner.”
“Emma, that’s great,” Lauren exclaimed. “Tell us about him. Is he funny? What does he do for a living? Is he cute? Does he have a nice squat?”
Kiara groaned, and Emma nodded vehemently. “He certainly does.”
Emma filled them in on everything she knew about him, and Lauren hoped things went well for them tomorrow night. She hadn’t seen Emma this excited about a guy in…well, ever.
“I can’t wait to hear how it goes,” Lauren said. “I’ll expect a full rundown on Friday morning.”
“Right back at you,” Emma said.
“Andrew has an appointment Friday, we could just ask him,” Kiara joked.
“Don’t you dare,” Lauren sputtered.
Emma shook her head. “I’d never ask my patient about their love life. That would be awkward as hell.”
Lauren agreed. She looked between her friends, worry etched between her eyebrows. “But promise me you’ll take good care of him, okay?”
“We always do.”
Andrew: Whatcha doing?
Lauren: Standing in the spice aisle at the grocery store.
Andrew: Getting stuff for tomorrow night?
Lauren: Yep. Prepare yourself for the most average homemade meal you’ve ever tasted.
