“Well, I was going to come down in a few weeks for a job interview anyway, and then Eli called and asked if I’d like to come see you, and hello! Of course I did! So, I called and had my interview moved to Monday, and here I am.”

Suddenly, Kate launches herself into my arms and hugs me tight. “Thank you,” she whispers into my ear.

“My pleasure, cher.”

“First things first,” Kate says, after we all get settled in the car. She and Lila are sharing the back, so they can talk without one of them craning their neck to see the other. “Who was that tall drink of water you were chatting with at the baggage claim?”

“Noticed that, did you?” Lila asks with a laugh.

“Um, hello, he was hot.”

I growl as I catch Kate’s eye in the rear-view.

“Did he just growl?” Lila asks with a laugh.

“He does that,” Kate says. “Spill it.”

“All I know is, his name is Asher, and he’s in town for some work thing.” She shrugs. “That’s it.”

“You didn’t get his number?”

“No.”

“Did he get yours?”

“No.”

“What is wrong with you?”

Lila laughs and kisses Kate’s cheek. “Let’s talk about you. How are you?”

“I’m good.”

There’s a moment of quiet. “I believe you,” Lila finally replies.

“You really didn’t get his number?” The girls bust up laughing, and it makes me smile to hear Kate so happy. So carefree.

I plan to keep her that way.

“I think this calls for girls’ night out tomorrow night,” Kate says suddenly. “I’ll call Van, Gabby, and Charly, and we’ll hit the town.”

“Excellent idea! I haven’t seen them in forever.”

“Do you know my sisters?” I ask.

“Yep, I met them a few times when we were all visiting Kate at college. This is gonna be epic.”

“So fun,” Kate agrees. “We’ll start at Café Amalie and flirt with Joe.”

“Who’s Joe?” Lila asks as I growl again.

“My favorite waiter.”

“Is he hot?” Lila asks.

“So hot,” Kate answers, and I grip the steering wheel tighter.

“I’m so in,” Lila replies.

Chapter Sixteen

Kate

“Can I borrow these earrings?” Lila asks, holding my silver chandelier earrings up to her lobes and looking in the mirror to my right. “They go with my shoes.”

“Your shoes?” I chuckle and look down, and sure enough, she’s right. “You’re going to have a hard time walking in the Quarter in those heels. Trust me.”

“It’s GNO,” she says with a shrug. “I’ll be fine. I’ll kick them off and dance barefoot at the bar.”

“Ew. You won’t want to do that on Bourbon.”

“Are you saying the French Quarter is unsanitary?”

“At night it is¸” I confirm, and smooth lip gloss on my lips. I step back and take stock. My hair is down, and thanks to the products Charly recommended, it hangs in pretty waves past my shoulders. Makeup is done, bolder than usual, because hello, girls’ night. “Is this dress okay?”

Lila examines me thoughtfully, then nods. “The color matches your eyes, which I kind of hate you for, because I can’t wear green, and it shows off your boobs. Excellent choice.”

“Right on.” Lila is gorgeous, as usual, in a one-shoulder little black dress and strappy silver heels. Her black hair is also down, straight and sleek. Makeup put together.

She’s always put together.

“You look awesome,” I say, and offer her a fist to bump.

“We’re hot bitches,” she agrees, just as the front door opens and Charly yells, “We’re here!”

“It was a good idea to meet here,” Gabby says, and holds a bottle of liquor up. “We’ll have shots before we leave.”

“Why do I feel like I’m back in college?” Van asks and hugs Lila tight, still careful of her shoulder. “Hi, sugar.”

“Hello, friend.”

“You all look amazing,” I announce and find shot glasses. Charly pours us each a shot of Patron.

“Should Van be drinking with pain meds?” Gabby asks.

“I haven’t taken a pain med in a week,” she says with a roll of the eyes. “But maybe I should try it. It could be fun.”

“Hey, Karen used to swirl her meds in her martini for a reason on Will & Grace,” Lila reminds us.

“Bingo,” Van agrees with a laugh, and we all take a shot, then another.

“Are we ready to go?” I ask. “We have a reservation at Café Amalie in fifteen minutes.”

“Let’s go wreak havoc on the streets of New Orleans, ladies,” Charly says, and leads us out the door and to the sidewalk. “Lila, honey, those shoes are gonna be a bitch when you’re drunk and walking through the Quarter.”

“Told you,” I say and smirk.

“They’re pretty,” Lila says.

“Oh, they are that,” Charly agrees. “Trust me, I know good shoes. But you’ll need to be careful.”

“I’ll hold onto you,” I tell Lila, and loop my arm through hers.

“Oh, good, we’ll both be on our asses,” she laughs.