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"Cindy, Marissa, you made it!" Maeve exclaims, enveloping us in bone-crushing hugs. "I'm so glad you could come."
Cindy grins, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Wouldn't miss it for the world. Your work is always amazing."
I nod in agreement, gaping at the intricate details of her creations. "Seriously, you've outdone yourself this time. You deserve a treat after all your hard work."
Maeve laughs, a hint of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. "Oh, stop it, you two. It's just a small exhibition."
Cindy rolls her eyes playfully, "Yeah, small exhibition, big talent. You're a star, Maeve."
As we check out several pieces of the artwork, Cindy nudges me with a mischievous grin. "Hey, Marissa, check out that guy over there. He's been eyeing you all night."
I follow her gaze to a tall, attractive man standing across the room, his eyes locked on me with an intensity that I should find flattering, but I don't. And I think I know why that is. It's got something to do with a certain actor with a penchant for breaking hearts.
"Um, yeah, I ... I'm not interested."
Cindy raises an eyebrow, her grin widening. "Oh, come on, Marissa. He's hot, and he clearly has good taste. You should go talk to him."
I shake my head adamantly. "No way. I'm not here to pick up guys. I'm here to support Maeve."
Maeve chuckles, coming to my defense. "That's right, Marissa. You're a strong, independent woman who doesn't need a man to define her."
Cindy rolls her eyes. "Oh, please. We all know Marissa's just being shy. Besides, it wouldn't hurt to have a little fun."
I shoot her a playful glare. "Easy for you to say, Miss Flirtatious. Some of us prefer to keep a low profile."
But that's not it at all. The truth is that I've been hung up on her brother for as long as I can remember. It's difficult to let anyone else in. I mean, I've dated before, but all my relationships always ended due to flimsy reasons.
Cindy smirks, "Low profile? Please, Marissa. You're practically glowing with all the attention from Mr. Mysterious over there."
I blush, feeling a surge of self-consciousness at the thought of being the center of someone's attention. Yes, I'm flustered, but it's because I'm not used to such attention.
"Can we please change the subject? I'd rather focus on Maeve and her incredible artwork."
Maeve nods in agreement, eager to shift the conversation back to her passion project. "Absolutely. Let's talk about the inspiration behind my latest piece."
Maeve launches into an animated discussion about her creative process, and I don't fail to notice the look of fulfillment she has on her face. Despite the teasing and playful jabs, if there's one thing I love about my friends, it's our ability to support and be there for one another.
I'm so blessed to have such incredible women by my side, each of us forging our own path in a world filled with endless possibilities.
Soon, Maeve leaves us to engage with a potential client, and Cindy sidles up to me.
"So, what was up with you showing up at dinner last night with Bryce?"
A knot forms in my stomach at the mention of Bryce's name, my fingers fidgeting nervously with the hem of my blue flowery shirt. "Oh, uh, it was nothing, really. Bryce just offered me a ride home, and I figured I'd take him up on the offer."
Cindy raises an eyebrow skeptically, her gaze piercing as she studies my reaction. "Just a ride home? Are you sure there's nothing more going on between you two?"
I shake my head adamantly, my cheeks flushing and betraying me. "No, of course not. We're just friends, Cindy. Nothing more."
Cindy's eyes narrow as she studies my reaction."Since when did you two become friends? I didn't even know you were close."
I shuffle my feet awkwardly, staring down at the scuffed toes of my sneakers.
"Oh, you know," I mumble, my voice barely audible over the clinking of silverware and the hum of conversation around us. "We've just been talking more lately, with the project and all."
I shift in my seat, the weight of her stare making my skin prickle with discomfort. I know I should tell her the truth, but not until I figure out how to tell her about my crush on her brother without completely weirding her out.
"It's not a big deal," I say, forcing a nonchalant shrug. "We just realized we have more in common than we thought."