Page 25 of The Singles Club

J: Alright. See you then.

V: Ciao.

Something told me I was more than unprepared for this date… fake or not.

* * *

Vivian

The café was quiet and smelled of vanilla, cream, and dark roast. Becky had recommended it for our meeting with Penelope. The place was perfect. Comforting and not too busy. In the corner, I noticed a woman wearing a Red Sox cap and typing away on a laptop who looked very familiar.

“Do you want to order coffee now or wait for Penelope?” Becky asked.

“Would you mind ordering? I think I see someone I know.”

“Sure, what are you having?”

“French vanilla, cream, one sugar.” I opened my wallet and gave her a twenty. “Thank you.”

I walked closer to the woman at the table, and she looked up. Emma—who recently got engaged to Lucas’s brother, Alex. Heat flushed my face at the awkwardness of the moment. We always got on great when I was with Lucas, but I hadn’t seen her since our breakup.

“Vivian, hi.” She got up and gave me a hug. I wasn’t much of the hugging type, but she was, and I didn’t mind all that much; in fact I was relieved.

“I heard about your engagement, congratulations,” I said, looking down at her ring.

Her entire face illuminated. “Thanks.”

“So, how are things?”

What I really wanted to ask was how Lucas was doing. The last I heard, he was in Maine taking care of some estate after their grandfather passed.

“Great, just working on my book.”

I raised my brows. “William Freeman has no problem with you doing the memoir now?”

She huffed out a laugh. “Yeah right, as if that would ever happen. This one is fiction.”

“That’s so exciting, good for you. I hope it works out.”

“I heard you’re moving to Paris?”

“Yes, in less than a month.”

“That’s amazing. I can’t wait to visit there.”

“Well, when you do, we should meet up for coffee and croissants.”

She smiled, but there was hesitancy. Of course there was. If she went to Paris it would probably be with Alex… and after what I did to his brother, he probably wanted nothing to do with me. I wouldn’t blame him.

“Well, it was great seeing you again,” I said quickly before she could respond.

“You too.”

Becky headed over with three coffees, and we sat at a four-seater table by the window.

“I texted Penelope and asked what she’d like. She’ll be here in a few minutes.” She glanced over towards Emma then leaned in closer. “The woman you were talking to… is that Emma Parker fromThe Virgin Clubblog?”

I nodded.