I hide my smile and step inside. Clover is sitting on the couch with her daughter, Sapphire, on her lap, and Decker is sitting with Clover’s husband, Felix, who is a police officer. Clover glances up and waves, but the energy I get from her isn’t overly friendly. Ever since I’ve met her, Clover has always been pleasant, but I usually feel like the third wheel. I haven’t been able to figure out how to crack her yet. Clover is a big part of Cara’s life, and I’d like it if we could all be friends. Clover has years of history with Cara, while all she and I share is blood.
“Hello,” I say to all of them, waving and sitting down next to Felix. Much safer than sitting next to his wife.
“Hey, Con,” Decker says warmly. “Can I get you something to drink? A glass of wine?”
“I’d love one.”
He stands up and heads to the kitchen, returning with a glass of red.
“How was your day?” Cara asks, sitting down next to Clover, Sapphire jumping into her arms.
“It was good,” I say. “I love working at the garage, and I’m learning so much. Most importantly, the people who work there are amazing.”
“I’m glad.” Cara nods, her eyes smiling at me.
“From what I’ve heard, they love you working there, too,” Decker adds.
Decker is the private investigator I hired to find Cara for me. I guess in a way I brought the two of them together, which makes me think that all this was meant to be. He used to be partners with Felix on the police force and now works with Temper’s sister-in-law. They are one of those big friendship groups where everyone knows everyone, and everyone dates everyone. I’d think it’s weird if I weren’t so jealous of the bonds they share.
I beam. “That’s wonderful to know. I’m so much happier working there than at the bar.”
“I better finish up dinner and get you all fed. Felix, you better come and supervise,” Decker announces.
Felix laughs and follows him to the kitchen. “How times have changed.”
“Yep, Felix cooks more than I do,” Clover says, grinning.
“Hopefully he rubs off on Decker,” Cara mutters, tucking her hair back behind her ear.
“Why does that sound dirty?” Clover replies, laughing. “And he’s cooking tonight, so he’s making an effort. What more can you ask for?”
“True. He is pretty wonderful.” Cara sighs happily. “And he’s not—”
“Bad to look at either,” Clover finishes, and they both burst out laughing together.
The two of them are so close. I don’t think I’ve ever met two women so in sync.
And yeah, I’m a little jealous.
“Well, to be honest, I threw him in the deep end tonight when I told him he’s cooking,” Cara admits, grinning.
“What is he cooking?” I ask, intrigued. Sapphire looks over at me with her gorgeous blue eyes, smiling widely. Her dark hair is tied up in a small ponytail on top of her head. Naturally, I smile back at her. She is so cute, maybe even the cutest child I’ve ever seen, and when she moves from Cara to come over to me, I let her sit on my lap. I can feel Clover’s eyes on me, watching the interaction.
“Carbonara and garlic bread. Not too hard, so he can’t mess it up. Aw, look, she likes you,” Cara replies sweetly.
We hear loud banging noises coming from the kitchen. Clover’s eyes head in that direction. “Well, worst-case, we can always order some pizza.”
“Yeah, I have the pizza place on speed dial.”
Sapphire touches my face and then moves off my lap, reaching for her mom to take her back. “She is so adorable,” I tell Clover, who kisses her daughter and holds her.
“Thank you, we certainly think so.”
“She doesn’t usually like many people at first,” Cara adds, sharing a look with Clover. “You must have a good aura about you, Con.”
I decide to change the subject, not wanting to press my luck with Clover. “So I think I’m ready to start dating. Aside from the guy I had a one-night stand with a few months ago—”
“What guy?” Cara asks, giving me her attention.
“I met this really sexy guy at the bar, and I ended up going home with him,” I admit.
Cara gasps. “No way! Good for you, about time you got some action! And are you going to see One-Night Stand Guy again?”
“You’re already nicknaming him,” Clover laughs.
“Just in case he becomes a thing,” Cara says.
“Probably not.” I shrug. “But I don’t know, it’s been so long since I’ve done anything like that.”
“He must have been really hot then,” Clover comments.
“He was,” I reply, feeling my cheeks heat a little. “And extremely good in bed. I don’t even know his name—”
“Oh, boy,” Cara comments, grinning. “Why are you only mentioning this now? This is the stuff I need to hear.”
“I don’t know,” I reply, shrugging. “I guess I feel a little more comfortable now and I don’t think you would judge me.”
“Of course not,” Cara says, tone gentle. “We aren’t prudes, you know. You can tell us anything.”
“We aren’t shy,” Clover adds, grinning. “No detail is too small.”
“Well,” I state. “There was nothing small about this one.”
We all start laughing.
“How’s your new teaching job been going?” I ask Cara when the laughter subsides, as I sit cross-legged and sip the delicious wine.
“I’m loving it,” she explains, lighting up. “The students are amazing, and the school has so much support.”
“She’s already making good changes at the school, too. Did you tell her about the breakfast club?” Clover asks.
Cara smiles and looks back at me. “I’ve started going in every morning and running a breakfast club, so the kids can all come in and eat before classes begin. Anyone is welcome, but of course the aim is to feed kids who might not otherwise have gotten anything to eat that morning.”
“That’s amazing, Cara. I wish I had that when I was growing up. I remember there were some mornings my mom and dad didn’t bother to get up because they were hungover, and I had to sort myself out, pack my own lunch and get to school by myself. Having something like your program at my school would have been such a help.”
Cara stills. “How old were you?”