They’re down! Meet us at The Copper Finch at 6.
TJ:
Can’t wait!
Demi:
Sounds great!!
Eric:
Do you work with any hot boys?
I do, but none of them are coming tonight.
Eric:
Bummer.
Tiana and Demi react with a laughing emoji to his message, and I just chuckle.
I have to finish this deck. See you later, gremlins.
Hours later,we walk into The Copper Finch, and Seraya waves me over to a round table near the window. Jovana is already there, hair slicked into a perfect low bun, flipping a cocktail menu with clinical focus.
“You’re late,” Jo says without looking up.
“You’re the one who’s early,” I protest, sliding into the seat.
Seraya grins. “We all know ‘Jovana time’ runs ten minutes before the clock.”
A server appears with water and a small dish of Castelvetrano olives. I scan the menu, my nerves doing hopping-jacks. “Something light,” I say. “Not too sweet.”
“Ginger-lime spritz?” the server offers.
“Perfect.”
“Negroni,” Jo says. “And the burrata.”
“Paloma, please,” Seraya chirps. “And those parmesan truffle fries before I eat my own knuckles.”
By the time our drinks land, the door swings open and Tiana beelines toward us, dragging Demi and Eric in her wake.
“There she is!” Tiana sings, squeezing me in a hug. “You look hot.”
“She’s right,” Demi says. “Very ‘girl boss’ energy.”
Eric kisses the air beside my cheek. “And curls that could murder a man.”
I laugh, already feeling looser. “Please sit before you keep complimenting me to death.”
Introductions fly. Seraya and Jo charm my friends instantly, earning real-friend badges in under three minutes.
Conversation ricochets from office gossip to Demi’s customer-from-hell to the time Eric accidentally sent a thirst trap to his professor (cropped, thank God).
My phone buzzes under the table. I ignore it. It buzzes again. Tiana cocks a brow.
“Work?” she asks, teasing but soft.