Page 125 of Hot Tea & Bird Calls

Celene hadn’t come down from her protectiveness over a town she hadn’t always taken seriously, either. She caught up with her emails as the three of them stared at their phones, backdropped by the coffee bean motifs and rich bursts of multiple roasts hitting the low-lit air.

It took Nadine slapping Dante’s hand off the croissant to redirect the mood. “Buy your own bread. Cheap ass.”

Dante gawked down at his wrinkle-less dress shirt and slacks, as if the ‘cheap’ comment came from a style perspective. “You’re not finishing that.”

“Hungry? Order a sandwich or something, cheap ass.”

“Call me cheap again, see what happens.” Mumbling, he ambled his long legs to the ordering booth, taking his time examining the hand-penned wall menu.

Nadine had an ulterior motive. Not surprising. Touching Celene’s hand, her eyes shone with a soft plea. “Now that he’s gone, be real with me. Off with the sunglasses.”

Never mind the lighting; Celene knew her eyes gave everything away once she slipped her sunglasses into her bag.

How Nadine sighed told her enough. “Tell me, Celene. Watched a sad movie? Hormonal? Existential malaise? Or should I spare us the guessing game and get to the heart of this?”

“Go ahead,” Celene granted, frustrated by this perceptiveness.

“You cry when you’re overwhelmed, yeah, but you cry likethatover women.” She drew an invisible line down her cheek with a pointer finger, pantomiming a fallen tear. “You’re in love with her.”

“Of course I’m in love with Skye.” No use in covering it up. “It’s scary.”

“Who are you telling? I’m scaredforyou.”

In a way many wouldn’t understand, that settled Celene into a soft laugh. She’d ruin the carefully curated balance of their commitment-phobic friend group. “I’m trying to embrace the fear.”

Nadine leaned further upon the table. Full lips pursed how Celene did hers. “You’re tough as nails, Celene. A season of heartbreak didn’t defeat you, and if this goes up in smoke, you’ll survive again. You have me.”

Celene ate the rest of Nadine’s croissant. Her best friend status gave her an exemption from any slapping.

The season metaphor stood out. Summers typically flew by for her, used up by vacations or seminars for her job. In Yielding, hours stretched longer and not long enough, considering the source of her crying.

The source that shone from her phone on the table.

Skye.

Skye – 7:21 pm

I’m two hours away from NYC.

I remembered you don’t like unannounced visits, lol. Is this too short notice?

Turning around’s an option.

Nadine had been reading the message upside-down, judging by her nod. “Look at that. You shed a few tears and your woman comes galloping into the city on her trusty steed.”

Celene – 7:25 pm

Aren’t your parents coming over tomorrow?

Skye – 7:26 pm

They are.

But they’ll understand.

Celene – 7:27 pm

Stop texting and get here in one piece.