Page 116 of November

“She’s not from money. It’s different for her.”

“She is, technically. It was just all gone before she was born,” India noted. “I could call Colter right now and yell at him or tell him to just fix this, but I haven’t because she asked me not to.”

“Does he know that you two are dating?”

India rolled her eyes and replied, “He thought she was a woman I was sleeping with before. I told him she wasn’t.”

“But she is.”

“Not yet. Or, maybe, not ever now. We haven’t slept together.”

“You said you had a great night and an amazing morning.”

“I slept over there for the first time. We just slept, but I loved it,” she replied.

“Hi.”

India looked up and saw Stephania standing next to their booth.

“Hi, Stephania,” she greeted.

Stephania shrugged a shoulder and said, “Just Steph is fine. That’s a stage name thing.” She sat down next to Ava and gave her a quick kiss. “Sorry, I’m late. I had an interview go over.”

“That’s okay,” Ava said.

“So, what did I miss?” Stephania asked. “Did you order?”

“No, we were waiting for you,” Ava replied as Stephania wrapped her arm around the back of the booth, which made India miss Maisie.

“What’s good here? I didn’t eat last time.”

“Pretty much everything. Let me get Logan.”

Ava waved for Logan to walk over.

“So, Ava tells me you’re in business development at a coffee company?”

“Yes. Southern Roastery.”

“Oh, I had coffee from there this morning. It’s really good,” Stephania said and grabbed for a menu with her free hand, not moving the arm around Ava’s shoulders. “You’re not expanding west anytime soon, are you? More locations? In LA, for example?”

India laughed and replied, “Not yet. We’re expanding in the South for now.”

“Miami? I’m going there next.”

“I don’t think we’ll have a store ready for you by then.” India smiled. “But I do get a ton of free coffee, so if you want some, I can give it to Ava, and she can make sure you get it.”

“That would be great. She’s coming with me.”

“She mentioned that.”

“I need to buy a new bikini,” Ava said. “We’ll be on the beach, and my suit is old.”

“Or, you could just be naked,” Stephania suggested. “I really wouldn’t mind.”

“On a public beach?” Ava laughed and turned to her. “You want me to be naked in front of all those people?”

“I’m a model, so I forget some people have a thing with public nudity.”