Maxine forked up her salad. “We’re supposed to be getting caught up on each other’s news. Why are we reliving the past?”
Rose glanced at Maxine, grateful for her intervention. However, Tasha wasn’t done.
“Talking about Ben does qualify as catching up with Rose.” Tasha pinned Rose with another watchful stare. “After all, finding out you’ll be presenting with him during our reunion is your latest news, isn’t it, Rose?”
“Actually, it’s not.” The words were out before Rose knew she was going to say them.
“What do you mean?” Claudia’s warm brown eyes sparked with curiosity.
“You have other news?” Tasha was caught off guard. It was a rare occurrence for her.
“Don’t keep us in suspense.” Maxine nudged Rose’s arm. “What is it?”
The moment of truth. Rose took a long drink of her ice water with lemon, then forced out the words. “I’m dating someone.”
Maxine smiled into Rose’s eyes. “Tell us about him. How did you meet?”
“What does he do?” Claudia leaned forward.
“Is he for real?” Tasha hid her sneer behind a tight smile.
Rose met the challenge in her friendly adversary’s almond-shaped eyes. “What makes you think he’s not?”
Tasha spread her hands. “Why are we only now hearing about him?”
“I didn’t want to tell anyone until I knew whether he was serious.” Not bad for an on-the-spot response. Rose gave herself a mental round of applause.
“That makes sense.” Maxine set aside her nearly empty salad plate.
“I understand.” Claudia sipped her iced tea. “You want to take your time.”
“Exactly.” Rose nodded as she finished off her salad.
The young server returned to clear away their empty plates and leave behind their individual bills.
“Why don’t you tell us about him now?” Tasha’s smile was a taunt. She checked her bill, then inserted her platinum credit card into the black leather bill holder.
“I’m still not ready.” Rose added her card to her bill holder, as well. “But hopefully you’ll have a chance to meet him during the reunion.”
Their server returned to collect their bills. Rose searched her brain for a change of topic.
“Meeting your new boyfriend at the reunion should be interesting.” Tasha’s shoulders shook with her laughter.
Rose frowned. “Why?”
Tasha shrugged. “Because Ben will meet his replacement—”
“He’s not Ben’s replacement.” Rose’s tone was sharp. Was Tasha deliberately poking her temper?
“And you’ll meet Ben’s new wife.” Tasha drank her diet soda. “Did you know she’s pregnant?”
The temperature in the café seemed to drop by at least ten degrees. There was a buzzing in Rose’s ears. “Ben’s wife is pregnant?”
“You didn’t know?” Tasha tilted her head. “Sh
e may be too far along to attend the reunion.”
A shaft of hurt and anger so sharp sliced through Rose like scalding steel cleaving her in two. She clenched her teeth against the pain. Benjamin was living the life he’d promised her.