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“She’s gorgeous. Bridgette is lucky.” Jill shrugged.

“She is. Monica’s great.” Sophie smiled. “And you’re not really interested in a setup, are you?”

“Not really,” Jill replied. “I want to fall in love. I want to meet someone, and it’s not you. You seem great. I’m just in a weird mood tonight.”

“Why is that?”

“Because Mel is probably my closest friend. We work together at NOLA Guides, and we weren’tsuperclose until maybe recently, but it was nice to have her invite me to things like this. Then, she met Kyle, and all of a sudden, she–”

“Was busy a lot or bringing her girlfriend everywhere?” Sophie guessed.

“Yes. AndIwant a girlfriend to bring everywhere, too. I had Bridgette – or, I thought I did – but then–”

“You and Bridgette?” she asked.

“No, not like that. I meant as a friend. She was single. I was single. We went out a couple of times to try to becomeunsingle, or at least meet women to see what happens, but then she met Monica, and now, they’re talking about Monica leaving her company and moving here.”

“Monica’s leaving Arnette?”

Sophie found herself much more interested in this conversation now. She leaned over the table, pushing her emptydrink glass aside to make room for her arms and her hands, which she clasped together in front of her.

“I guess. I don’t think it’s happening tomorrow or anything, but she wants to leave. That’s what Bridge said, anyway.”

Sophie swallowed, not expecting that at all. Monica was supposed to be the next CEO; she had been groomed for it. But she’d also be very good at it, from what Sophie could remember about them working together. She’d expected that Monica’s father would’ve retired a couple of years ago, but he’d hung on this long. Sophie didn’t know who would take over once Monica was gone if this was true. Maybe it was just a girlfriend’s wishful thinking because if Monica left Arnette, she could move here to be with Bridgette. She didn’t know, but she’d ask Monica when they talked next.

“Hey, do you want to get out of here? There’s a bar I like better than this place that’s across the street. A little more my scene,” Jill said. “I’ll buy you a drink if you let me complain more about my friends and how they’re ditching me to fall in love.”

Sophie laughed and said, “Sure. Why not?”

After they paid their bill, they had to practically push through the Quarter crowd. It was that time of year in New Orleans: tourists were beginning to multiply like rabbits and congregate in the streets, enjoying the fact that they could drink anywhere and everywhere and at all hours of the day. Once they were through the sea of people, they were inside the bar and looking around for a table. Jill spotted one and pulled Sophie along.

“Oh, we–” A woman started to say when she bumped into Sophie just as they reached the table. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Sophie replied as she took in the dark-brown eyes and short black hair of the woman standing in front of her now. “Sorry. What?”

“I just…”

“We were going to sit here,” another woman spoke, pointing down toward the tall, round table Sophie and Jill had been able to take.

“Oh. We can share, can’t we?” Jill offered to the other woman.

“Yeah, uh… no problem,” the first woman replied. “Bryce,” she added as she held out her hand to Sophie.

“Sophie,” she said and shook it.

Bryce was wearing a black short-sleeved button-down shirt and some gray slacks that had her looking like an elegant soft butch, and Sophie internally swooned. She only hoped that she didn’t swoonexternally, too, because she loved the type, always had, and Bryce definitely fit the bill.

“You are?” Jill asked the other woman.

“Kelsey.”

“Jill,” Jill introduced herself.

“And this is Megan,” Bryce added when a third woman approached, carrying four drinks. “Where is Sean?”

“Bathroom,” Megan replied as she placed the drinks on the table. “Hi.”

“Hi. I’m Jill. That’s Sophie. Are you locals or tourists?”