Page 10 of Cabin Mate

“Perfect! I’ll have that,” she says before taking a seat at the small round table in my breakfast nook.

Layla joins her there, and I begin prepping my espresso machine for our drinks.

“Sooo, what’s new with you?” I hear Layla ask from the table. My back is turned toward them, but I catch a hint of humor in her voice.

“I’m not sure how you two figured out I broke up with Todd… but I’ll find out, eventually.”

Hope gasps. It sounds fake. “Oh, my gosh! I’m so sorry.” Her voice is sweet but slightly exaggerated.

I glance at them over my shoulder and narrow my eyes, letting them know I’m onto their weird charade. As I make our drinks, I fill them in on the note I found on Todd’s car and then how I confronted him about it. I explain he was hosting a party and forgot about our date. While telling my friends the details, I realize that I’m surprisingly calm about the whole thing. It feels as if Todd and I have been back and forth so many times … just stagnant … that our breakup was bound to happen sooner or later.

They both jump up from their seats and pull me into a big group hug.

“Molly, I’m so sorry. Todd is even worse than I thought,” Layla says as she pulls back.

Hope nods in agreement. “If I ever see him again, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop myself from slapping him.”

I smile and huff out a laugh. “I definitely won’t stop you.”

“And a poetry party?” Layla cringes.

Hope crinkles her nose. “Yeah, that sounds like the most boring party ever.” She takes a dainty sip of her latte. “He should’ve asked for Brooks’s help planning a party. Now that man knows how to have fun.”

I finish our coffees and bring them to the table on a cute wooden tray.

Layla raises her eyebrows appreciatively. Brooks may not be my type, what with his blonde locks and bright personality, but I can see the appeal he has and why women love him. Not only because he’s so outgoing and vivacious… but all those muscles. If you’re into that sort of thing.

Before Layla and Hope came along, Brooks was the only genuine friend I had. Even when Todd and I were broken up, I had no desire to mess up my friendship with Brooks by getting romantically involved, and I’m positive Brooks feels the same way.

“He’s your boss,” I waggle my finger in mock reprimand. “Keep it clean.”

Hope giggles into her latte.

“So are you!” Layla laughs.

Shrugging, I take a drink of my apple pie spice latte, savoring the sweet but spicy flavor of it.

I clear my throat and change the subject, “So now my sister is freaking out that I ruined her wedding. But I’m not sure what the big deal is. Everyone’s eyes will be on Mildred and Preston. No one will even notice if things are awkward between the maid of honor and the best man.”

“Well, she may have a point. Didn’t Todd make a big scene one summer right after one of your breakups?” Hope cringes at the thought.

Layla rolls her eyes. “Oh yeah. He crashed your vacation in Turks and Caicos, right? Blazing drunk and yelling about how you ruined his life?”

“Well, yeah. But it’s his cousin's wedding. All of his family will be there. I don’t think he’d pull a stunt like that.” I pause, not feeling entirely confident in my own words. But I straighten my shoulders and continue anyway. “I’m sure Todd and I can keep things cordial.”

Layla rubs her chin thoughtfully with her thumb and forefinger. “You should find a date though … That way, Todd will leave you alone.”

Hope nods enthusiastically. “Oh yes, bonus points if he thinks you’re dating the guy.”

I nearly spit out my latte. “In two weeks? You seriously think he’d buy that?”

Hope shrugs. “He’s highly emotional and also insecure … so yeah.”

“You have a point. He does always seem eager to get back together. Although I’m not sure why, since he seems pretty uninterested in me when we’re dating.” I tap my index finger on my bottom lip as I think. “Actually, bringing a date might even keep my mother from bothering me about Todd.”

Layla and Hope glance at each other over the rims of their mugs. Their eyes are gleaming with whatever scheme they’re coming up with.

“What’s that look?” My eyes move back and forth from Hope to Layla and back.