Page 93 of Cream & Sugar

I steer Lara away from Freddie to a table near the counter so I can hop up to serve anyone who might come in, but also to keep them as far apart as possible. Before I can sit, she puts down her coffee and pulls me into a hug.

“Aw, I’ve missed you, Shauny,” she squeezes my upper arm. “Ooh! Have you been working out?”

“Not for weeks,” I admit, unless mine and Freddie's shenanigans count.

Making sure to give Lara the seat facing away from Freddie, we sit. Instantly, I regret not making myself a coffee too—I don’t know what to do with my hands. Sandwiching them between my legs, I wait for Lara to speak. She doesn’t. She just looks at me, a glimmer in her eye.

“So, um, how’ve you been?” I ask when I can’t take the silence anymore.

“Oh, you know. Fab. Things are really taking off, you know? I’ve had like six sponsorship offers in the last month. I literally can’t keep up.”

“Right. That’s great!”

“Mhmm!”

She hasn’t blinked in a long time.

“And things are good with…” I wait for her to pick up my sentence, but she doesn’t. “Viggo?”

“Oh, him,” Lara finally blinks, averting her gaze to the ceiling. “Well, it’s fine but we split up actually. You didn’t see it on socials?”

Wow. Since the other week? But they seemed so similar. Perfect for each other.

I realise I haven’t said anything and quickly search my brain for the sort of thing people say in these situations. “Oh no! I’m so sorry, Lara. Are you doing okay?”

She smiles, though there’s a certain tightness to the corners of her mouth.

“You’re so sweet, Shauny. I’m fine. We just were going in different directions. Me with my influencing and him with his trek to the Himalayas to live in total silence in a monastery for six months. So yeah. Viggo’s out of the picture.”

Yikes.

Lara takes a sip of her coffee while I find myself wondering why she couldn't have gone to the monastery too.

She sets the mug down and smacks her lips.

“Mm, yummy. You’re so good at these little coffees, Shauny! So, are you seeing anyone at the moment?”

The abruptness of the question makes my brain jolt. I’m keenly aware Freddie is within earshot. “Oh, um, sort of, actually, I guess. Something new.”

Lara’s face freezes in time for a split-second, like a glitching robot.

“Wow! Good for you, Shauny.” She’s talking far too loud for how quiet it is in here. “How did you meet?”

“Uh… Here, actually.”

“How lovely! You must get lots of pretty girls in here. Lots of artsy, hippie types, I bet.” The derision fizzes through her teeth like sherbet. “But I’m not surprised you’ve pulled someone. You’re so handsome. I still get DMs, you know? People asking about you. My followers miss you, Shauny.”

“Oh. Really?” A little red flag goes up in the back of my mind. “It’s just, I thought, with the comment?”

Lara cocks her head. “What comment?”

Shit.Now it’ll look like I’m still obsessing over our break-up, which I’m not.

Not anymore.

“Oh it’s nothing. A while back you left a comment on a picture of us on my profile, asking me to delete it? No biggie."

Her face knots with confusion.