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“As long as that’s a good thing.” Elliot giggled shyly. “I think I’d probably die of embarrassment if she didn’t like it.”

“She’ll love whatever you do, El.” I chuckled. “Because it’syouand the two of you are so grossly in love. It’s both adorable and sickening.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Please just let me know when you do it,” I told her. “Ihaveto see her reaction.”

Elliot’s smile was watery but Reid walked in before she could say anything.

I sent her a wink, the overwhelming joy for my dearest friend warming me from the inside out.

Elliot’s was a love that I’d never seen before; unquestioned and unabashed. She loved Cameron so much that even I often felt a little dumbstruck by it. It certainly explained Cam’s starry-eyed gaze when she arrived.

It made me think of Frankie, of how it might have felt to be loved like that by her.

“God, I have missed your face,” Alex said, swooping down to plant a sloppy, loud kiss on my cheek.

“Itisa pretty amazing face,” I teased, but instead of the usual eye roll I would have gotten, Alex only beamed at me. “But I missed you guys too, I guess.”

Rather than pry and interrogate me, demanding to know what might have happened or why I hadn’t seen them in so long, they fell into a natural pattern, talking, laughing, and joking together. It eased the anxiety lingering in my gut.

“How did you find this place?” Taylor asked me, looking around at the decor much the same way I had when Frankie had brought me here. “You always find the most amazing food spots.”

“Actually, Frankie found it,” I admitted.

“Really?” Reid asked, impressed. “She’s got a good eye.”

“The food is incredible,” I went on, trying to steer the conversation away from questions about Frankie.

“Did Frankie tell you about this place or did she bring you here?”

I narrowed my eyes at Reid, who only smiled back at me, expectant.

“We had a business lunch here a little while back. She even paid for it, if you’ll believe that.”

“I’m glad the two of you are civil enough to have lunch together now,” Cam interjected, a brow raised at my slip-up. I hadn’t meant to tell them about Frankie paying for lunch.

She and Reid looked at me plainly, and I knew they could see right through me.

“It’s great,” I said, clearing my throat. “We’re moving forward with some of the proposed changes and she’s agreed to meet investors with me.”

A familiar red flashed in the corner of my eye and I whipped around, convinced Frankie had just walked by.

But it wasn’t her, and I couldn’t ignore the way my heart sank a little.

“Hayden?” Reid said, her hand reaching out to squeeze mine. “Are you okay?”

I shook my head, too embarrassed to admit I’d thought I’d seen Frankie.

Even more embarrassed to admit that I was unhappy it wasn’t her.

I forced a laugh and turned around in my seat. “I completely forgot to tell you guys I ran into Nat a couple of days ago.”

Silence descended on our table, five pairs of eyes staring back at me.

Cam was the first to speak, and I was grateful for it. The silence was worse than anything they could say about it.

“Where?” she asked. “What happened?”