JENNIE
As always, Rosé had come through in a social emergency and procured us a table at the grand opening of what she'd called "the hottest new restaurant in Chicago." Invitations had been extended only to the who's who of the city's social scene—plus Jisoo and me. We'd only made the cut as friends of Rosé, who happened to be the current love interest of the head chef.
Jisoo and I gave our names at the door, and a hostess led us to a table in the center of the restaurant where Rosé sat with her roommates, Ava and Bethany. A bottle of expensive Bordeaux had already been opened, and two empty glasses waited at two empty seats for Jisoo and me.
"You're here!" Rosé jumped up and came around the table. "I was worried you were playing a prank on me," she said, hugging Jisoo. "It's no small feat to get you both out husband-free on a Saturday night."
"I couldn't handle ESPN another moment," I said, opening my arms to her.
Rosé's nose twitched, her sixth sense probably alerting her ESPN was code for Taehyung. Instead of hugging me, she took my forearms and spread them as her jaw dropped. "Jennie Kim," she said, eyeing me up and down. "Look at you."
I shimmied in a short, glittering, gold-sequined dress that showed off one bare shoulder. "Like it?"
"Like it?" Ava asked from her seat. "You look like a fucking movie star."
"Rosé did say this was the social event of the season and that the press would be here," Jisoo said, who'd added a statement necklace to a modest black dress. Despite her career as a personal stylist, Jisoo had always had a very predictable, simple look. Her motto—"Classic never goes out of style"—suited her perfectly.
Jisoo and I took our seats and before long, we were ordering a second bottle of red along with appetizers.
"I can't wait to see what happens when you actually sleep with Jeff," Bethany said, finishing off her wine.
"Is Jeff the chef?" Jisoo asked, giggling at her rhyme.
Rosé nodded. "He's been asking me out, but I'm not sure I want to add another guy into the rotation."
"God, I wish I had your stamina," Ava said. "I feel like I'm working overtime just to secure a boyfriend."
"You say that like he's a bank loan," Bethany said.
"I wish he was," Ava said. "Finding a husband would be a hell of a lot easier if I just had to meet a list of requirements to apply."
"A husband?" I asked.
Ava nodded. "I want to be a young mom, but also spend quality time with my husband before we have kids. That means I should be pregnant before thirty, so I need to get engaged, like, next year."
Ah, single life. It'd been a while since I'd been in it. I blew out a sigh. "The more you stress about it, the harder it is."
"Easy for you to say." Ava puckered her lips into a pout. "You're already married."
I shrugged. "Just saying, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Some days I wish I'd enjoyed my freedom a little longer."
Ava gasped. "Don't say that. Being single in this city is awful ."
"Um, Chicago is the best place to be single," Rosé countered. "Any competition we might have is in New York and Los Angeles trying to get famous. But the men here, they're . . ."
The table went quiet just as my ears tuned to a voice deep enough to cut through the hum of the crowd.
I knew that voice, and I knew the expression on Rosé's face.
"They're that." Rosé finished her sentence with a nod across the room, and everyone but me turned to follow her gaze. "You can't tell me the single life sucks when there's a bachelorette like that on the loose."
I shut my eyes and inhaled as my skin tingled. My nipples hardened as if a cold breeze had passed through the dining room, yet the wine had warmed me to my core. Or maybe it was her eyes on me. How Lisa Manoban could have such an effect on me without a word, or even a glance, I didn't know. And I wasn't sure I wanted to.
"Who is that?" Ava asked, sitting up straighter in her seat. "More importantly, she's a bachelorette?"
Jisoo, already tipsy, broke into a smile and waved a little too hard, nearly toppling out of her chair. "Lisa," she called. "Lisa! Over here."
All the women's eyes stayed fixed behind me, their heads tilting back until Lisa spoke from next to me. "Well, if it isn't my lucky night."
I turned. The sight of her was no less devastating than any time she and I had come face to face. If possible, I might've been even more stunned by her beauty in this unexpected setting. Her eyes met mine, especially gold against her jet-black hair and in the warm light of the restaurant. "Hello, Jennie," she said.
A second later, a woman slipped her arm into her pea coat, which hung open over a black sweater that looked as if it were made of the softest cashmere in the world. She hugged her waist too intimately for a friend or family member, stunning me into silence and stealing any response I might've had to her very personal greeting.
It took me a second before I recognized her from pictures I'd seen online while researching Lisa. She came up to her chin in sky-high heels that lengthened already long legs. Caramel-colored hair fell in waves over her bronzed shoulders, and her skin-tight red dress showed off an athletic figure with a great ass.
I dug my nails into the seat cushion. She was one of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen, her rich, dark complexion melding flawlessly with Lisa's olive skin. They were the epitome of a glamorous couple.
Envy flooded out my shock. I looked Lisa straight in the eyes.
Playgirl.
Lisa swallowed, having the decency to look sheepish.
"Lucky night, indeed," said another man I hadn't noticed. His French accent lingered the way his eyes traveled over each of us, leering in a way that made me tug on my earlobe.
Lisa cocked her head, and I pulled my hand away, mortified that I'd even thought I could hold her interest when she was clearly spoken for by someone like her.
"What're you doing here, Lisa?" Jisoo asked, her voice pitching into my thoughts.
"This is my associate, Arnaud," Lisa said, gesturing to the shorter man next to her. "He worked on this project."
"The space is beautiful ," Jisoo said. "Congratulations."
"Merci, mademoiselle ," Arnaud said.
"What brings you ladies out?" Lisa asked.
I turned forward and clasped my hands in my lap, my back unnaturally straight as I refused to look at her. Or the beauty on her arm.
"Rosé's dating the head chef," Jisoo explained.
"Geez, Chu, Jeff is just a friend," Rosé said quickly. "We've never even been on a date."
"Sor-ry ," Jisoo said.
"Lisa?" The woman's whispered Li-suuuh turned her name even sexier. "My feet hurt."
"Hmm?" Lisa asked, sounding distracted. "Oh. Just another second—"
"The hostess is waiting for us," the woman added, her Latin accent clearer as her tone rose.
Lisa cleared her throat. "Mina and I had better sit," she said. "Nice to see you all again—Jisoo, Rosé . . . Jennie." My name rolled off her tongue as if she were testing it out, the same way she'd said it the first time. Even without looking at her, I sensed her hesitation before she walked away.
"She remembered my name," Rosé whisper-squealed.
"Because I just said it," Jisoo pointed out.
Bethany leaned over the table toward Rosé. "Details. Now. Spill ."
"She's a friend of my fiancé," Jisoo said.
Ava and Bethany both jerked their heads to her. "Who was that woman? Her girlfriend?"
"Not sure," Jisoo said. "I think she has lots of them . . ."
Lisa took a seat directly in my line of sight. I made sure to keep my eyes on my friends.
"Hook a girl up," Rosé said.
"Yeah, this girl," Ava said, pointing at herself as the others giggled.
Suddenly nauseated, I moved my napkin off my lap. "I'm going to use the restroom."
Jisoo stood. "I'll go, too."
"Let's make it a threesome," Rosé said, standing. She flicked her long, blonde ringlets over her shoulder as she shimmied out of her seat—surely for Lisa's benefit. She had a perfect view of her rear, which was exactly what she'd be seeing if she were still looking in our direction.
As we made our way through the restaurant, Jisoo drew us closer and lowered her voice. "I didn't want to say this in front of the others in case they try to stalk me at work," she said, "but Lisa made an appointment for a consultation with me next week."
"Really?" I asked, the question flying out. Lisa was seeping into every part of my life, and I didn't know if I was more thrilled or worried by it. Even though nothing had happened between us, our attraction felt too big to hide. Especially if she was going to be spending more time around my friends.
"You lucky bitch," Rosé said. "You'll get to see her naked."
Jisoo turned a shade of red I'd never seen on a person. "Being a stylist isn't like that, Rosé. God."
I'd just entered the bathroom stall when my phone vibrated with a text from an unknown number.
Unknown only because I hadn't saved it in my phone earlier. Because keeping the number felt like a transgression in itself.
Was it also a sin that I recognized it anyway?
That I couldn't forget it?
That my heart leaped knowing the text was from Lisa?
Back in the dining area, our waitress had littered the table with appetizers that looked as good as they smelled. I hid my phone in my lap and read Lisa Manoban's text message a third time.
Lisa: Why the cold shoulder?
I needed to delete it. Delete her. But I couldn't deny my flicker of excitement over the fact that not only was she ignoring her date to text me, but she'd also noticed me ignoring her—and had picked up on my discomfort when even my girlfriends hadn't. I sent my reply.
Me: I'm not sure what you mean.
"More wine, Jen?" Bethany asked, causing me to jump.
"Oh. Yes. Thanks," I said just as my phone vibrated.
Lisa: Don't be coy. How are you getting home?
Me: Why?
Rosé was speaking, but I didn't need to listen. I'd already heard her story about becoming an accidental extra in Chris Hemsworth's latest film. I clutched the phone until Lisa's response came through.
Lisa: You've been drinking.
Me: So?
Lisa: I will come over there ask in front of everyone if you don't tell me. How're you getting home?
Me: Thought I'd hitch a ride with legs over there.
Lisa: Very cute. I'm coming over.
Horrified at the possibility that she'd out us to my friends, I scurried to type a response, taking only a second to shoot a harried glance in her direction.
Me: Jisoo and I are getting a cab. Why does it matter?
Lisa: You know it does.
Some part of her cared. I didn't know why, but I couldn't deny it. I took another, larger sip and inhaled before answering.
Me: You said earlier that you called me for a reason.
Lisa: And you hung up on me, right before you told me not to call again . . .
So, she wasn't going to tell me the reason. That was my punishment for hanging up. I shouldn't care what she did or didn't have to say anyway. Clearly, the Bordeaux was talking for me. I unfastened my clutch to put the phone away, but it pinged before I could.
Lisa: . . . but you never told me not to text.
With a small commotion, I looked up.
Jeff the chef had emerged from the kitchen and was heading for our table. As we applauded, he broke into a grin. "Thank you," he said with a short bow. "How's everything, Rosé?"
She tossed her long hair. "Delicious, Jeff."
"Great," he said, visibly reddening. "I can't stay, just wanted to say hello—and let you know I'm sending over a special dessert just for my favorite table." He blew Rosé a kiss and offered the rest of us a quick wave.
As I watched her walk away, my eyes fell on Lisa. Mina gestured as she spoke to her, but Lisa didn't appear to be listening as she checked her phone.
Jisoo leaned over. "Everything all right?"
I flipped my cell over in my lap to hide the screen. "What? Yes. Why?"
"Things seemed a little tense between you and Taehyung when I came to get you for dinner. And you're texting furiously. Are you fighting?"
"We argued earlier," I admitted.
"About?"
"House hunting again. It's stressful." I smiled at her. "You'll know soon enough."
"I can't see Bohyun and me leaving our apartment anytime soon."
"I can't see myself leaving the city, either, but you'll see. Once the baby topic comes up—"
Her eyes widened as she clapped her hands together. "Are you guys finally trying?"
"Trying to what?" Ava asked, turning to us.
"No, nothing," I said quickly. The last thing I needed was Jisoo on my case about this, too. Any hint of baby talk, and she'd team up with Taehyung against me. "Taehyung and I looked at some houses today. Nothing exciting."
Ava lost interest, but Rosé looked up from her dish. "Hey, isn't tomorrow Leanore's birthday?"
I sighed. "Yes."
"Who's Leanore?" Bethany asked.
"My mother," I answered.
Jisoo lowered her voice. "Are you going to call her?" she asked. "You should. I'm sure she'd like that."
I exchanged a glance with Rosé. Every year I said I wouldn't call, but every year, I was guilted into it by someone. Usually Taehyung.
"Tell us more about our bridesmaid dresses, Chu," Rosé said.
Jisoo lit up and launched into fabrics, cuts, and colors, as if she'd just been waiting for someone to ask.
I mouthed a "thank you" at Rosé for the subject change, and she nodded.
I tried to focus on the conversation around me. After all, this wedding would be the center of Jisoo's world until it happened. But there was something about Lisa. Since the ballet, I'd felt her eyes any time they were on me. That included now. I looked up and found her gaze narrowed in my direction.
After a moment, she picked up her phone again.
Seconds later, mine buzzed.
Our eyes met once more before I checked the screen.
Lisa: It's taking everything in me not to come over there. You are KILLING me in that gold dress, honeybee.