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Because their dark blue eyes had finally locked on me.

Shit.

“Wait, Jacqueline? That you, girl?” Taylor released Violet from the hug, and heat flamed my cheeks. On the other side of Violet, Nicole’s head turned towards me, her black hair swishing with the movement. I met her wide, dark eyes, barely acknowledging her own flushed cheeks, before I pasted on a smile and stood up from my seat.

“Hi, T,” I opened my arms when their body language made it obvious that they were going for a hug again.

“T, how do you know everyone in Orange County?” Eloise shifted her weight to one hip and crossed her arms, her light blue eyes bouncing between the two of us, then she turned to Signe who had returned with a pen, “I’m going to need a long, heartfelt message with your signature, thanks.”

Signe grinned before taking her book and getting to work.

“I worked with Violet and her daughter for a few years,” Taylor explained with a nod towards Violet, before looking back at me, “Jacqueline’s man and I play rugby together,” Taylor said with a grin, pulling me in tight against them. They smelled good, like clean laundry. I noticed how they didn’t mention the fact that they helped Leo surprise me with the experience of attending a secret pop-up rave. Perhaps that needed to stay a secret, so I didn’t mention it.

“Pardon me?” Violet spoke up right when Taylor released me, “You have a boyfriend? How did I not know about this?”

Taylor hesitated, their smile slipping a bit once they took in my facial expression, “Oh, shit.”

“It’s fine.” I flapped my hand, not wanting them to feel bad for assuming things.

“Who is your boyfriend?” Nicole asked, her eyes bouncing between Taylor and me.

Taylor scratched the back of their head, scraping against the shaven strands.

“That’s, actually…” I bit my lip, “What I wanted help with tonight. If you don’t mind me carving out some of girls’ night for myself.”

Taylor’s facial expression softened, “I’m so sorry. I just assumed.”

I shook my head at them, “It’s fine, I was going to bring it up anyway.”

“Oh my god just tell us who it is!” Signe slapped her book closed before shoving it in Eloise’s hands, “I’m dying here!”

Mary rolled her eyes back and released a loud, dramatic groan that gained the attention of everyone in the room, “Jacqueline and Leo are fucking. Leo is head over heels for her. Jacqueline hasn’t figured things out yet.”

I wanted a hole to open up in the floor and swallow me away from this moment.

But I braced my shoulders, fighting the urge to fold into myself under Mary’s blunt, but truthful, words.

Signe was silent, mouth agape. So were Nicole and Violet. Eloise and Taylor shared a look with each other.

“Okay, well, we better be going,” Eloise spoke up, shoving her book in her bag, “T?”

“Yeah,” Taylor replied with a nod, “I’m sorry, Jacqueline.”

“You’re fine,” I gave them a wobbly smile before they turned and delicately stepped over Nicole’s legs, “’scuse me.”

Nicole didn’t say anything, just shifted out of their way and kept her eyes on the floor. Taylor gave me one last wave goodbye before following Eloise out of the apartment.

Then, Signe practically threw herself down on the bedding with the rest of us.

“Girls’ night is officially in session,” she declared.

“Start from the beginning,” Violet demanded, “How did this happen?”

I inhaled a breath for confidence, before folding back into my spot on the floor and grabbing a throw pillow to hold against my chest.

And then I told them everything.

Starting from how we met in the bar, all the way to when Leo told me he loved me. I left out certain parts, assuming they didn’t want to know how far inside of me he was when he whispered those words to me.