Page 82 of This Kind of Forever

Clara flips him the bird as he saunters out of the room. I try not to, but I can’t help watching him walk away. The tattoo on his right shoulder blade isn’t a bad sight either.

Stop drooling, Hallie.That’s a surefire way to blow your cover.

Delilah holds up a bottle of rosé. “I brought the good stuff.”

I smile. When Clara suggested we have a do-over of the other night, at home instead of the bar, I readily agreed. I’ll take any opportunity to spend time with Clara, and I really want to get to know Delilah better.

I grab three wine glasses from the cupboard and set them on the island. Delilah uncorks the bottle and begins to pour. And pour. The wine is almost to the top when Clara sets a hand on her wrist.

“You doing alright there, Dee?” Clara asks.

“Huh? Oh.” Delilah shakes her head and sets the bottle down. “Sorry, I’m a little out of it today.”

“Late night?” I tease.

Clara grimaces. “I flew too close to the sun with you,” she says to Delilah. “I don’t think I like you talking about banging my brother.”

Delilah laughs, shaking her head. “Yes, it was a late night, but not like that. I was helping Parker with his project for his science class and we lost track of time. We would’ve kept going, too, if Luke hadn’t woken up for work and made us go to bed.”

Clara picks up the bottle and finishes doling out the rosé. “It sounds like things are getting better between you two.”

She nods. “We’re getting there. Therapy has really been helping.”

I wasn’t here to witness it, but Delilah and her brother went through a rough patch after they first moved to the island. I’m sure it’s not easy to navigate the kind of loss they experienced, so I’m glad they’re doing better.

I take my glass of wine just as Gabe strolls back into the kitchen, looking entirely too good. Who am I kidding? Healwayslooks good. I take a healthy sip of my drink.

“Seeing as I’m unwanted here, I’m going to hang out with Luke,” he says. “I’ll be home later. You ladies have fun.”

The urge to kiss him goodbye is strong. He must feel it, too, because his hand brushes against the small of my back on his way out of the room.

“What’s new with you?” I ask Clara, forcing myself to forget about Gabe for the time being. “How’s the movie shoot going?”

Clara purses her lips. “Fine,” she grumbles.

Usually, my best friend would be all over something like this. She’d be the first to tell us all the details she’s learned from being in such close proximity to the production and its crew. The fact that she isn’t leaves me suspicious.

“You didn’t tell us what movie it was. Does it star anyone good?”

“Debatable,” she replies.

“Clara,” I say, “we’re going to need a little more than that.”

She sighs. “It’s Cooper’s movie, okay?”

I gasp. “Cooper? As in,thatCooper?”

“Wait,” Delilah interjects, “I’m missing something. What’s wrong with Cooper?”

“A great many things.” Clara tops up her glass of wine, then takes a generous sip. “I want to poke his eyeballs out with a tiny fork.”

I pause, my own drink suspended halfway to my mouth.

“Pardon?” Delilah sputters.

Neither one of us are used to our friend, the bubbly woman that she is, being so hostile. She takes most everything in stride. Except this, apparently.

“I want to poke his eyeballs out with a tiny fork,” she repeats.