Secret Relationship with my Brother’s best friend
She spots me almost immediately of course she does, I’m wearing the loudest color in the room out of spite — and her mouth curves.
“Jade Murphy.” She says it like an announcement, standing, crossing over before I can decide whether to pretend I didn’t hear. “What a coincidence.”
“Vanessa.” I keep my voice even. “Small city.”
“Isn’t it just.” She glances at Nina, then Lauren, dismisses them both in under a second, and focuses back on me like we’re old friends catching up. “How’s the babysitting going? Derek must be exhausted, running back and forth between the office and playing chaperone. He’s usually so much less —” she searches for the word, finds it, delivers it with a smile ” — occupied.