Page 124 of Go Back to December

Back at the table, Sofia, Annabel, and Luiza wear matching scowls. Mark swivels around to find out what the fuss is about. From the look on my face, they can tell I’m upset, and their dander is up.

I love them all for it. For wanting to protect me. The same way I would protect Baz.

Stick to the truth. As few details as possible.

And as the situation demands: Call them out on their shit.

“I’m not entirely sure what you’re getting at with this conversation, Alicia.” I raise my chin and give her my best Bad Bastard glare. “Or why you thought it was appropriate to ask the ambassador to divulge confidential employee information.”

Alicia pales.

“In fact.” I punctuate all my consonants, like it’s my closing statement in a murder trial. “That kind of information is only required to be disclosed to HR, and any partner who discusses it outside of the company would violate a non-disclosure agreement.”

“I-I didn’t know,” she stammers.

“The ambassador should have clarified,” I say in my snippiest tone, as I search the restaurant for Badger. There’s no sign of him. Or Baz.

A server shoots out of the kitchen door with the second tray of cinnamon buns, and I’m so wound up by this conversation and Baz’s absence, and the looming board vote, I roar my demand for the rolls.

He hands me the entire tray. I march it back to the table in a daze.

“You are a hundred percent in the pod.” Luiza seizes the rolls and stuffs another in her mouth. Her chewing slows as I fall into the chair next to her.

“What did Alicia want?” Sofia asks.

I’m so frantic to change the subject, I blurt out, “I wanted to ask her father for a recommendation letter for a fellowship program for socialpreneurs.”

“The Lightman Paris Fellowship?” Mark says.

Forks clink on plates as their faces swivel in my direction.

“Y-You know it?”

“My college roommate was a fellow a few years ago,” Mark replies. “He’s on the selection committee.”

He was the one who must have asked Baz about me. Annabel’s comments about Baz leaving last night now make perfect sense.

“But the café is here. Baz’s practice is here.” Sofia frowns. She doesn’t believe Baz would sacrifice his job for me. And I’m not sure I could ask him to.

“He could easily work in the EU,” Mark says. “He has dual qualifications.”

Sofia’s head snaps to Mark. “He’s talked to you about moving?”

“Baz and I have barely talked about it,” I interject. “The fellowship is a long shot.”

“Well, I hope you get in,” Annabel says quickly, “so we can crash with you in Paris.”

Luiza brightens at this thought, but Sofia sips her coffee pensively.

The host pops by to remind us that the table has a second seating in fifteen minutes. Luiza and Annabel exchange panicked looks. “Barely time for the last round.”

“Where the fuck is Baz?” Luiza whines. “He’s missing everything.”

I’m also wondering where Baz is. If he doesn’t get here soon to rescue me from his family, I will track him down and break his other knee.

Phones ping around the table. I try not to read dread into the chorus of notifications as I indulge in the delicious cinnamon rolls that, honestly, made my entire catfight with Alicia worth it.

Luiza laughs deeply. “Oh, shit.”