Page 116

Another Step Forward

Hayden

“Youcanbackoutif you want to,” I told Frankie, my anxiety riding me hard.

Frankie giggled beside me, the midday sun glinting off her curls. “If you would rather I not meet your friends just yet, then we can always wait.”

I shook my head, clearing my throat. “If I show up by myself, they won’t let me live it down.” I laughed. “As long as you’re okay, then we can walk in.”

I said that even though I lingered on the sidewalk outside our usual haunt, my feet plastered to the stone. I knew how my friends would take this; how they would see my bringing Frankie to brunch. It was the same with Elliot when Cameron finally accepted that she was head-over-heels for Elliot.

I wasn’t sure I was there just yet.

I wasn’t sure if I was ready to have the whole world know just how hard I’d fallen.

“Do we need to do this like a Band-Aid?” she teased, her thumb brushing along the outside of my hand. I took a deep breath and walked forward, not allowing myself a moment to second-guess it any longer.

I nodded at the waitrons, nerves coiling in my gut, leading Frankie to the table where everyone was already seated.

Waiting.

“Well, well, well,” Reid announced, her expression brightening at the sight of Frankie. “Isn’t this a pleasant treat?”

“Yeah, yeah,” I said, pulling my seat out. “She’s here. Don’t chase her off.”

“Never,” Cameron chuckled. “Hi Frankie, I’m Cameron.”

“Hello,” Frankie said, her smile as bright as Cameron’s.

“Take a seat,” I murmured to her. We sat down, and I tried not to pay too much attention to their intense gazes.

“Shall we do a quick roll call?” I suggested, my breaths high and thin. “I don’t expect Frankie to remember all your names, so-”

I pointed at each of my friends as I called their names out. “Cameron, her girlfriend, Elliot. Reid, Taylor, and Alex.”

Alex rolled her eyes at me. “As eloquent as Cameron was when we first met Elliot,” she mocked, earning a vulgar gesture in return. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Frankie.”

“It’s great to meet you all, too,” Frankie said. Her gaze drifted to Elliot, who smiled at her.

“Hayden has told usallabout you.” Elliot giggled.

Frankie shot me a surprised look. “Oh?” she asked. “I’m dying to know what she told you.”

“That you were a spitfire who refused to allow her to do anything she wanted,” Reid mused, her eyes glinting with intrigue. “We’ve been your biggest fans for a while now.”

Frankie laughed, a little embarrassed, and I fought the urge to hold her hand under the table.

“See, Hayden is so used to getting her way,” Taylor chimed in, leaning forward on her elbows. “She uses that charm and gets everything her heart desires. So when she met you, and you pushed back, it was the most fun we’ve had in ages.”

Elliot cleared her throat, everyone’s attention turning to her.

“I’d love it if youdidn’tscare my new best friend off before we even get to order,” she teased, earning a round of laughter from the table.

I frowned. “I thought I was your best friend,” I said, indignant, but my smile gave me away.

Elliot shrugged, her fingers laced with Cam’s on the table. “You were,” she said. “But then you told me about Frankie. You already have Cam and the girls, let me have my fun.”

Cameron lifted their twined hands to kiss Elliot’s knuckles, a soft, lovesick grin on her face.