Page 130 of Go Find Less
“You are a rockstar.” She squeezes my fingers, her eyes creasing behind the teal-framed glasses she had on today, which matched her purse almost perfectly. “Anyone else would probably have cussed Dad out.”
“He wasn’t that bad.” My voice is not convincing, and both of them stare at me. “OK, my watch was telling me the entire time that my heart rate was too high.”
“I was wondering why it kept vibrating.” Frannie flags over a waiter, who greets her by name, like they had Seer when we sat down. “Unsweet tea and the Cobb salad, thanks, Hector.” She gives the waiter a warm smile, turning to us.
“French Onion Chicken for me, and,” Seer pauses, catching my eye. I nod, handing my menu over to Hector. “French Dip with the parm fries, extra garlic aioli. You’ll have to key the specialties in, but the kitchen should know what to do.” Hector looks like a deer in headlights as he takes the stack of menus, going to put in our order. Seer turns on her friend. “How did he even know she was interviewing today?”
“He must have seen my calendar blocked off this morning.” Frannie gives a deep sigh. “I’m so sorry, Piper, if I’d known he would do that, I would have moved it to make sure he wasn’t in.”
“It’s fine.” Seer gives me a look, sipping on her Diet Coke. “I mean, it’s not. I thought my heart was going to fall out of my butt.”
“Glad that didn’t happen,” Frannie deadpans, stealing her friends’ water to gulp while waiting for her drink. “I got an earful when you two left.”
“Yeah, he’s texted me already.” I hold up my phone half heartedly. The second we were on the elevator it dinged, and he hadn’t stopped. I appreciated the check in, but I think part of him is freaking out more than I am. I look at Frannie, gauging her before I continue. “They don’t get along at all, do they?”
Frannie freezes momentarily, eyes sliding to Seer for just a second before she looks back at me. “Will and Dad are…more alike than they want to admit.” She wrinkles her nose. “Oil and water sometimes, but other times, it’s like they’re on the same wavelength.”
I snort. “That’s what my dad says about my mom and I.” I take a long draw from my tea, glancing around the restaurant on the bottom floor of The Monarch. It’s hidden enough in the back of the lobby that I’m not worried about anyone seeing us, hearing our conversation - and if it’ll get back to Chris Westfall. I am, however, worried about something else. “Is your friend going to get mad that you’re here with me?” The two women across from me share a look, clearly confused. “The one that showed up here the other night, when we were at Menagerie.” Recognition sinks across Seer’s face.
“She means Savvy,” Seer explains to her friend, and Frannie nods in understanding.
“I know someone told her I was here with Fitz, at least, that’s what he figured.” I pause, looking for the right words. “I would hate for the two of you spending time with me to put a dent in that relationship.” Frannie toys with the roll of silverware in front of her.
“Savannah is…”
“Savannah,” Seer finished for her, and then sips from her drink again. “I make it a point not to talk about people behind their backs, but if there’s one thing you should know about Savannah, it’s that nothing - no one, really - holds her attention for too long.” She shrugs to herself, then looks at Frannie. “She’s had a crush on Fitz for years, but I think she’s finally figured out that she’s not going to be able to sway his attention.”
“My brother can be a tool.” I nearly spit out my drink at Frannie’s brutal honesty, but she just gives me a half-smile. “Both of them can be, really. But after Liv…” She leans forward on her forearms. “Piper, she hurt him. A lot. And he won’t admit it to any of us, but I think he buried himself in work, and pointless shit outside work, just to get through the day.” Then, her half smile goes full Westfall grin. “But then he started seeing you.”
“Ok, Shakespeare.” Seer waves a hand at her friend. “Chill it with the life-changing circumstances shit.” Hector comes back with Frannie’s drink, but when I turn to see why he’s still standing there, I realize that the aproned man isn’t Hector at all, but Mateo, the man I’d met briefly the night of my first date with Fitz. “Ah, perfect timing. Look at that.” Mateo grins at us, pulling a chair up and sitting in it backwards, his chest pressed against the upholstered fabric. “We were just talking about how Piper doesn’t need to worry that Savvy will be jealous of us spending time with her.” Mateo nods, but I see something else in his eyes - hesitation, maybe - as he replies.
“Jealousy, no. She’s not the jealous type.” He shrugs, his fingers thumping on the top of the chair back. “Really, she just needs a new job.”
“Welcome to the club,” I reply, drinking my tea.
“She’s really talented, but she puts a lot of her energy into relationships with pointless people instead of the ones worth her time, friends, and otherwise.” Seer shrugs. “I think she was hoping that she’d be able to use her experience here to springboard into something more her forte, but so far, no dice.”
“What does she want to do?” I ask, both curious about this girl that captured Fitz’s attention, and someone that was clearly close to the people around me who, from what I could tell, came with Fitz like a packaged deal. I’m not complaining - Seer’s neverending barrage of dry humor and memes throughout the day kept me going on some rough afternoons.
“Weddings.” Frannie takes a long sip of her drink. “But not the venue side - I think, long haul, she wants to do actual coordination and planning, but for now…”
“For now she’s working for Hitler.” I nearly blow hot tea out my nose at Mateos words, and turn to look at him. “Seriously. Her boss has the little pedo stash, right here.” He points to the area in between his upper lip and nose. “And that’s it. No other facial hair.”
“He does not,” I snort, and Mateo just continues to nod.
“She went to work at Emily’s after she left the concierge job here,” Seer explains, and I make a face. “Yes, exactly that.”
Emily’s was a quantity over quality venue chain, a far cry from the personalized catering and white glove service at the WHG properties I’d been to. I’d also heard they paid shit.
“Does she have any interest in florals?” I sound thoughtful, and I don’t meet their eyes as my fingers tap on the side of my china cup.
“She’s been doing her own arrangements since we were in middle school.” Mateo’s voice is laced with annoyance, but I can tell he means it teasingly. “Why?”
“My sponsor is a florist.” I shrug, meeting Seer’s gaze. “I can send you her info, she’s always looking for more help. Especially during the crazy seasons.”
“Her and everyone else in this industry,” Frannie whispers, and my phone and watch vibrate.
FITZ WESTFALL