Chapter 21

GRACE'S POV 

After my absolutely moving advice, Lana and I sat in comfortable silence. At some point, I even ordered another drink, and she pulled out her phone to text someone whom I hoped was her dear work wife. 

Weirdly, I didn't mind sitting across her, even though we weren't saying anything to each other. 

Thirty something minutes later, Susan appeared behind Lana, a grin on her face. 

“Grace! There you are! I've been searching all over for you. I even thought you slipped out and went home without me.” She had a sparkle in her eyes which meant she was definitely going back to hot guy's place. 

“I considered it, trust me. But I changed my mind and stayed back.” I replied. 

Lana turned to look at Susan, curiousity spreading over her face. 

Susan looked at Lana, smile still intact. “Is this a friend of yours? Because I know you didn't willingly leave that corner to come sit here by yourself.” 

Lana snorted a laugh, looking back at her phone. 

I rolled my eyes. “I guess, you could say that.” 

“Well? Introduce us.” Susan crossed her arms. 

I groaned internally. She was not going to let me live this down. For a second, I considered telling her a different name, but Lana was sitting right in front of me and will call me out. 

“Susan, this is Lana, my colleague. And Lana, this is Susan, my best friend.” I gestured to both of them as I spoke. 

Susan's eyes widened, her mouth dropping open. I knew she'd remember Lana from work. 

“Lana from work? Like, the Lana from work? Oh wow.” She spluttered. 

Lana gave me a look, a knowing look in her eyes. “I see my play has made it past the office doors. Huh.” 

I shut my eyes, and slapped my forehead. “It's not like that, at all.” 

Susan laughed, turning around to stand behind me. “Oh, it's definitely like that. We had our weekly work gossip and she had the juiciest gossip for me. But don't worry, we don't judge, at all.” 

Lana shook her head, grabbing her things. “Well, this is where I make my way to the door. Thank you for broadcasting my drama to your best friend, and for the advice. You've really helped me this evening.” She smiled at me.

“Oh, wait. She's making it sound bad, but trust me, it's not.” I tried to redeem myself.

Lana put out her hand and stopped me. “It's okay, Grace. I understand. I'd tell my best friend about it too, except, I was the star of the show. I'll see you on Monday.” She winked at me and walked away, confidently. 

Susan chuckled, taking over Lana's seat. “Wow. Just wow. How'd that happen? I've been gone for what? Twenty minutes? And you and Lana are friends now?” 

I glared at her, eyes narrowing slightly. “You were gone for an hour and half. And me and her aren't friends.” I clarified. 

She shrugged. “Homeboy had me hooked, I'm sorry. He's very very nice, and totally wants me tonight. But I'm here, for now, because he's talking to his friends. He'll come get me in like 10 minutes, but give me a rundown on everything you guys talked about.” 

I instinctively looked around, searching for the guy she'd been with. When I couldn't find him, I asked, “Where is he anyway?” 

“He's around somewhere. Go on, tell me something I don't know.” She pushed, waving me off dismissively. She leaned forward with interest.

I narrowed my eyes. “That’s going to be difficult, you think you know everything already.”

She grinned. “I don’t think. I do.” She wriggled her brows at me.

I snorted, picking up my drink and taking a slow sip, letting the silence linger just enough to annoy her.

“Grace,” she warned, like she knew what I was doing.

I set my glass down gently. “Fine. But I’m not giving you the dramatic, exaggerated version you very much want.”

She gasped, hand over her mouth. “Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?”

“I’m serious, Susan.” I shot.

“So am I,” she shot back, though her tone softened slightly. “Come on. You walked up to Lana. The same Lana from your office. The same Lana from the drama you just narrated to me like it was a series on N*****x or Hulu. And now she’s leaving and smiling and thanking you for advice?”

She paused, then leaned even closer. “You better start talking.” She added.

I sighed, leaning back in my chair as I crossed my arms. “It wasn’t that dramatic though.”

“Grace.” She knew I was stalling. 

“Okay, fine,” I gave in. “It started off awkward. Like, painfully awkward.”

“I can imagine.” She said.

“She didn’t expect me to be there. Which is fair enough. I didn’t expect to see her either.” I continued.

“And yet, instead of minding your business like a normal person, you got up and walked to her. What was that about?”

“I tried to,” I cut in. “But she looked off, really off.”

Susan’s expression shifted slightly. “Off how? Like she'd been hit by a truck kind of off?”

I hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. “She just wasn't as confident as she'd always seemed in the office. You know how I've said she always appears polished, poised and confident?” Susan nodded. “Well, she wasn't like that tonight. She appeared smaller.”

“Why?” Susan asked, whispering this time.

“I'm guessing everything caught up with her. I tried to ignore her and pretend like I didn't see her, but it just didn't work. I couldn't turn away from her. So, I walked up to her.” I continued.

“What did you say? I'm having a hard time imagining that scene.” She leaned back.

“I asked, ‘Rough day?’ and it led into a conversation. Well, not immediately. I mean, I had to go over walls, climb mountains, swam oceans before I could get to her. But eventually, she opened up.”

At that, Susan burst out laughing.