Page 53 of The Shape of You

“Don’t do it,” Dwayne warned her. “I tried once.”

“What happened?”

“She threw a glass at me!” Dwayne’s eyes were wide in mock horror.

“Plastic cup,” Rebecca muttered to Spencer.

“I almost lost an eye!”

“It bounced off his head,” Rebecca clarified. “He hardly felt it.”

“She’s crazy,” Dwayne went on. “Don’t cross her.”

“Word,” said Nick with a sage nod, and sipped his beer.

“I hate both of these men,” Rebecca said to Spencer. “I really do.No idea how I ended up sitting with them.”

“Because you can’t resist our charms,” Nick said.

“Word,” Dwayne said, stealing Nick’s comment.

“I like them,” Spencer said and meant it. “They’re funny.”

Nick turned to look at Rebecca. “Why don’t you switch stools withher? She’s a lot nicer than you.”

Rebecca nodded enthusiastically. “First true thing you’ve said inhours. I completely agree.”

Spencer watched this banter for the better part of an hour,sometimes included, sometimes just listening and then laughing out loud. Itmight have been longer than an hour. She hadn’t checked her watch once sincesitting down next to Rebecca. They were so much fun, these three. It wasobvious how much they cared about each other. Even more interesting was howmuch more relaxed Rebecca was around them. Not that Spencer had ever thought ofher as tense or uptight…it was simply a level of comfort that was veryapparent. And it looked good on her.

When halftime arrived, Spencer reluctantly began gathering herthings.

“You leaving?” Rebecca asked, her tone tinted with an obvioustouch of disappointment.

“Yeah, I really need to. I have to swing by my parents’ house, andI’ve got some work stuff to catch up on before tomorrow.”

“Real estate stuff,” Rebecca said.

Spencer was pleased she remembered. “Yes. Real estate stuff.”

“Well, it’s not like I won’t see you again tomorrow.”

“Very true.”

“I’m glad you came and sat with me.” Rebecca’s smile was differentthis time. It felt like it was just for Spencer.

“Me, too.” Spencer slid off her stool, then touched Nick’s back.“It was great to meet you guys,” she said when Nick and Dwayne both turned toher.

“Same here,” Nick said. “We’re here every Sunday.”

“And sometimes Mondays,” Dwayne offered.

“Occasionally Thursdays,” Nick said.

Spencer laughed. “Got it. You live here. I’ll come visit.” Turningher gaze back to Rebecca, she reached out, touched her upper arm. A beat passedas their eye contact held. Finally, Spencer squeezed, let go. “I’ll see youtomorrow.”

A weird duo of feelings tangoed in her head as Spencer headed outto her car, a mix of a necessity to leave and a desire to run back inside andstay until…whenever. She forced her feet to keep moving, got in her car, anddrove out of the parking lot faster than she should have.

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