Page 308 of 5+Us Makes Seven

No, she would have told me if she wanted. The thought resonated with me as I took the elevator down to the first floor. Fuck you, Jade, I thought as I went outside. I need a drink.

Sitting at a bar a few blocks away from my apartment, nursing a drink, my phone rang. I dug it out of my pocket. Instead of Jade’s, I saw the strange phone number of Aamir again.

What now?

I ignored the call. Maybe the problem would go away on its own.

TWENTY-ONE

Jade

After Cooper left, I grabbed my phone and sent Laura a text message, telling her to come over for drinks. She agreed immediately. I went to my bedroom and got dressed while waiting for her.

What the hell was Cooper’s problem? I had gone out with Max one time, but we hadn’t done anything. And even if we had, it was none of his damn business. It wasn’t like I was playing both men.

I became angrier about the situation the more I thought about it. By the time Laura arrived half-an-hour later, I had myself worked up. She came in and closed the door behind her.

“Where’s the wine?”

“In here,” I said, walking toward the kitchen.

She followed me as I retrieved a bottle of wine and opened it on the counter.

“Grab some glasses?” I asked.

“You’re not with Cooper tonight?”

“Ugh. Don’t get me started.”

“What did he do?” she asked, opening a cupboard to get the glasses.

“I don’t even know to be honest. He came over demanding to the know the truth, but he didn’t come out and accuse me of anything.”

“Did he find out about that Max guy?”

“I don’t know how he would. Unless Max is talking to him again?”

“If that was the case, I’d think Cooper would have said something.”

“Right?”

I poured us each a full glass of the mid-range quality red wine.

“Here’s to a girls’ night out,” she said, lifting hers.

“Or one staying in.”

We both smiled and clinked the glasses together.

“You don’t mind, do you?”

“Staying in to drink? Not at all. You have more wine, right?”

“I always have more wine.”

“They should let us drink more wine at work, like the French.”

“Um, I don’t think the French go to work drunk.”