When Odette returned from the bathroom, a guy was seated beside Beth.
Beth introduced her new boyfriend. “This is Brian. Brian, these are Odette and Abby.”
The young blond man beamed. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“I was just telling Brian that we’re planning to go out for drinks later,” Beth said. “Odette likes the pub down the road with colorful drinks.”
“Really? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you there,” Brian said, eyeing Odette.
Odette gazed at Beth, feeling lost about what she was talking about.
“Oh, yes. We normally leave early. You’re probably there after midnight.”
Brian nodded. “My friends are planning to go there today after eating. Do you want to come with us? It’s been a while since you had time to go out with me.”
Beth grinned. “Is Keith going?”
“Don’t you want to hang out with me if your brother is coming?”
Beth shrugged and took a sip from her drink.
Abby commented, “I might not be able to go. I have to wake up early tomorrow.”
Odette grabbed Abby’s arm and whispered close to her ear. “If you’re not going, I’ll be alone.”
“Beth will be with you.”
“She’ll be with Brian. I doubt they’ll have time to talk to me.”
“What are you whispering about?” Beth wondered.
“Nothing.” Odette grinned and twirled a strand of her hair around her finger. She frowned when she noticed that Brian was looking at her with a goofy grin. Peering down, she wondered if her clothes were dirty or too revealing.
“Hey!” Beth captured Brian’s face and forced him to look at her. “Stop staring at my cute friend.”
“I-I wasn’t looking,” he assured.
“I know she’s pretty, but she’s not into you.”
“The guys were commenting on how Charming had changed. They were right.”
“Sorry, what?” Odette asked, interrupting their private conversation.
Beth’s brows drew together. “Just find a way for us to end up at your friends’ table, so Carl can talk to Odette. Understood?”
Brian nodded.
Beth’s boyfriend left shortly after, and Odette tried not to freak out. Last time, Beth’s plan didn’t go so well.
Her body froze when she heard Brian’s voice. “Dudes, find us more chairs, so my girlfriend and her hot friends can join us.”
The guys howled and dragged chairs over while Beth watched everything with a placid smile.
Odette leaned closer to Beth with widened eyes. “Are we really joining them?”
“Of course. You can talk to Carl while you’re there. He keeps looking at his phone. Maybe he’s waiting for you to text him. Men aren’t what they used to be. They hide behind their phones instead of going out to talk with the person they want. Weird.”
Odette swallowed a lament and said to Abby, “Don’t you dare run away. I need someone to keep me company.”
“Just look at your phone and pretend to be busy,” Beth advised.
“Damien, my man!” Keith’s voice boomed inside the restaurant.
Lifting her gaze, Odette saw her friend, Damien Seabrook, enter the restaurant with a couple of his college friends. She waved at him when he noticed her at their table.
Abby grabbed Odette’s arm, and she scooted closer. “Do you know him?”
“Of course. Our families are friends.” Odette noticed Abby’s interest. “Do you have a crush on—”
Abby’s hand covered Odette’s mouth. “You better not speak about this again if you want me to stay with you at the guys’ table.”
Odette nodded and grinned when Abby removed her hand. Her red-haired friend looked around. Damien sat down not too far from the jocks.
“Beth, come,” Brian called.
She rose to her feet with her drink in hand. “Bring your plates and drinks and try not to embarrass me,” she said with a menacing smile.
Odette and Abby held each other and pretended to be scared.
Beth rolled her eyes.