"Anytime."
* * * *
I walked into the restaurant and handed the guy my coat at the front, worrying a little at first about being overdressed until the host showed me to our table.
My three friends were already there and let out loud squeals as I approached.
Momentary warmth flooded me and it was good to see old familiar faces. I hugged each of them and took my seat beside Cindy.
"You look incredible. The sun has done so much for your complexion. I love it." Janet reached for her wine and smiled.
"I agree. Do you dye your hair or is that natural?" Her twin sister, Kinsey, ran her fingers through her long brown strands as she tilted her head and studied me.
Lovely. The microscope light has been turned on.
"All natural, girls." I smiled and turned to Cindy. "How was the flight? The traveling? The family?"
We each took turns going around the table throughout dinner to update everyone on the happenings in each of our lives. Cindy had seen the world, Kinsey had her own million-dollar on-line business, and Janet had published her fifth book.
"How about you?" Cindy sat back and rubbed at her stomach. "Tell us everything."
"Well, I just graduated from UCLA with my design degree, so now I'm working on starting my own company, which should launch next spring." I glanced down at my top. "I designed this bad-boy."
"Oh, nice!" Kinsey reached across the table and ran her fingers over the fabric at my shoulder. "Feels so good. I'm impressed."
"Is your dad supplying the seed funding?" Cindy asked and lifted her hand to take the check from the waiter.
"Yes, but you know him and his rules. I'm stuck here for the next few weeks, and if I can stick it out for the holidays, he'll help me." I tried to overemphasize how put out I was by the demand, since they expected me to be bratty and catty like we all were in high school.
"That’s dumb." Kinsey rolled her eyes. "So...what's up next? Shopping? Movie? Dancing?"
"I wouldn't mind checking out the new dance club that opened in the center of town." I shrugged. "Some of the guys here are incredibly hot."
"Yes, and being here for the night means only one thing..." Cindy smiled nefariously.
"One night stand!" Kinsey and Janet yelled in tandem.
I glanced around as several people from nearby tables looked our way. Heat rose up my chest and coated my cheeks.
"I love them. So much easier than relationships, don't you think, Chloe?" Cindy turned her dark eyes on me. She was beautiful, the exotic one out of the four of us. Her mother was Asian and her father Hispanic. She was never without a boyfriend back in high school. I had no doubt that not much had changed.
"Love 'em." I turned my attention to my wine and emptied the glass.
"I want to find a local boy. The town whore." Kinsey wagged her eyebrows. "You know, every town has one and this place is so big that I bet there's one for each of us."
I stiffened at the thought of seeing Finn with any of my friends. Anger rose sharply inside of me and I stood, having to excuse myself to the bathroom. How people could be such assholes was beyond me. Not that Finn didn't set himself up to be used, but still.
I walked into the bathroom and moved to the sink, washing my hands and checking myself out in the mirror. I wasn't beyond dancing with a few boys, but going home with one of them meant that the possibility of a second date was highly probable from both sides. Sleeping with someone only to have them lose my number the next day was too much for me. My friends...not so much.
I walked back out to find them all waiting by the front door, giddy with anticipation.
"You ready?" Cindy slipped her arm into mine and pulled me to the front door. "You drive. I want to get trashed."
"Absolutely." I pulled the keys from my purse and glanced at her. “Where is your luggage?”
“I dropped it off at the hotel next door where Kinsey and Janet are staying before meeting you.” Cindy smiled. “It’s right next door. Remind me to get it when we get done tonight.”
The twins were giggling furiously about something and I couldn't help but smile. They were identical, both of them with brown hair and green eyes. There wasn't anything that made them stand out from the next girl, but they were wild women and knew how to get attention when they wanted it.