Page 210 - My FlipBook
P. 210

L IS A  J.  L A W R E N C E


                Most of the conversation revolved around Kai. He liked
             cats, was thinking of going vegan and had just written a book.
                “What’s the book about?” Nate asked, shoveling in the
             risotto.
                “It’s basically about unrequited love,” Kai said, laying
             down his fork to brush a lock of hair off his cheekbone.
                “That  sounds  like  a  good  universal  theme.”  Elgin
             chuckled. “Haven’t we all loved somebody we can’t have?”

                Nate glanced at Ash, and Ash at Alice. Alice’s eyes flicked
             to Kai, and he took that moment to check his phone beside
             his plate. Greta tried to dodge a wave of anger, while Elgin
             poured himself a glass of wine and missed the whole thing.
                Then Kai and Alice—talking over each other—told
             them about a song they had written together. (“Kai plays the
             guitar like B.B. King.”) It incorporated the science of teeth              ADVANCE READING COPY

             with analogies of betrayal. Two wtf lines were etched deep
             between Ash’s eyebrows.
                Elgin nodded as if this were the most logical thing in
             the world. “Yes, I see that,” he said. “Something could be
             said, as well, about baby teeth representing the foundations
             of trust and not being needed as relationships grow.” He
             took a sip of wine and leaned back in his chair, gazing over
             their heads.
                Ash slipped away when Kai, Alice and Elgin poured coffee

             and hunkered down at the table. Nate and Greta followed
             him and flopped on the sofa. Greta shifted to one side and
             motioned for Ash to sit between them. “Welcome to the
             friend zone,” she said. “Plenty of room here.”



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