“It’s amazing.” She takes another drink. “We should find a yoga studio close to here so we can grab these smoothies as soon as we’re done class. It would save us the subway ride and a lot of time.”
Time.
It’s the most valuable currency in Kate’s life.
She busies herself at her bridal shop to avoid facing her pain. Gage Burke, the man who broke her heart, damaged her in ways he may never be aware of.
She tells me often that she’s put their breakup in her rearview mirror, but it’s a lie.
Her days are packed with work, friends and whatever else she can cram into the remaining few hours before she falls asleep.
“There’s one two blocks over.” I point down the street. “I took a class there once. I liked it. I’ll book us in for one next week?”
“That works for me,” she chirps. “How did you find out about this smoothie cart?”
“The manager of the store on Fifth Avenue.” I start to walk back toward the subway stop. “She stopped by my office one day to bring me one.”
Kate falls in step beside me, bumping her yoga mat against mine. “She knows how to impress the boss. Did it work?”
I laugh through a nod of my head. “It worked.”
She sighs softly. “You haven’t said anything about what happened last night, Liv. You met up with Alexander after we left the bar, right?”
A chill races through me. I should have grabbed a coat before I left my apartment tonight. I’m relying on my off-the-shoulder sweater and my yoga pants to keep me warm. They’re failing miserably.
“Where did you meet him?”
I smile, knowing that Kate will understand. “At the tea shop.”
She laughs. “Our tea shop?”
I shrug. “It seemed like the perfect place. I wanted a cup of tea and it’s close to home.”
“It’s also incredibly unromantic,” she points out. “Was he disappointed?”
We stop to wait for the light to change before we cross the street. “He’s a regular there.”
“You’re kidding?” She sways in place. “He’s been there before?”
I return the smile of a man who stops next to us before I look back at Kate. “That’s what he told me.”
We cross the street in silence as soon as the light changes.
Once we’re back on the sidewalk, she narrows her eyes. “Did anything worth mentioning happen last night or are you two still playing that game of cat and mouse?”
“We kissed.”
She stops mid-step. “You kissed?”
I move out of the way of a woman pushing a twin stroller. I gaze down at the two little boys as they pass.
“How was it?” Kate nudges my side with her elbow. “Is he a good kisser?”
I don’t hesitate because I know she’ll pester me until I tell her. “The best.”
Her lips curve into a smile. “You deserve the best, Liv.”
I push her to start walking again. “I want to catch the next train.”