Margot flashed her a smile and slid the plate closer, reaching for her fork. She mouthed a quick thanks before digging in, swallowing a bite of cake and, with it, a moan. Shit, that was good stuff.
Brendon shrugged, somehow striking the balance between casual confidence and humility. There wasn’t a disingenuous bone in Brendon’s body, which helped keep his words from toeing into humblebrag territory. “I like to think we’re doing a good thing.” His brow furrowed softly, eyes narrowing as he chewed on his bottom lip. “Say, Olivia, are you seeing anyone?”
“No, no.” Margot set her fork down, shaking her head brusquely. “Do not answer that question, Liv.” She turned to Brendon, leveling him with a hard stare. “We do not ask strangers if they’re single. It’s invasive.”
Brendon held up his hands, face the picture of innocence, all wide who me? eyes and lips parted, ready to spout an excuse. “Olivia’s not a stranger. She’s our wedding planner, and she’s your friend.”
“It’s not your business, Brendon,” Margot said, jaw clenching. “Butt out.”
“It’s fine.” The shiny gold hoops in Olivia’s ears danced against the sides of her neck when she shook her head. “I’m not currently seeing anyone, no.”
Brendon smiled. “Would you like to be?”
“Jesus,” Margot muttered.
Annie bumped Brendon’s shoulder. “Babe, maybe ease off?”
Brendon’s lower lip jutted out.
“You’re giving off we saw you across the bar and really like your vibe, energy,” Annie said.
He frowned. “We do like her vibe.”
Annie whispered something in Brendon’s ear that made him blush.
“For the record, that was not a proposition,” Brendon clarified, scratching his jaw. “It was a general question.”
Olivia tucked her hair behind her ears. Her face had turned a soft shade of pink, her neck slightly darker, her flush working its way north. “I—”
“You do not have to answer. Plead the fifth,” Margot said, rolling her eyes. “Brendon, as much as we adore him, hasn’t quite grasped the concept of boundaries.”
“I think he understands boundaries perfectly well,” Darcy said. “I think he simply chooses to ignore them.”
Brendon clutched his chest, expression wounded. “I came here to have a good time, and I’m honestly feeling so attacked right now.”
“2014 called and they would like that joke back.” Margot softened the jibe with a smile.
“Olivia.” Brendon turned to her, still clutching his chest. “Do you see what I go through? These people call themselves my friends.”
“I’m your sister,” Darcy said, tapping away at her phone, probably texting Elle, who hadn’t been able to make it to the cake tasting, having agreed to babysit last minute for her older sister. “I’m stuck with you.”
He turned his puppy-dog stare on Annie. She patted him on the cheek. “You know how I feel about you.”
Margot grinned and gestured at her plate. “I’m just here for the food.”
Olivia chuckled. “It’s fine, Brendon. If I didn’t feel comfortable answering, I’d tell you precisely where you could stick your question.” Her smile went impish. “Politely, of course.”
Brendon, Annie, and Darcy burst out laughing, Olivia’s frankness clearly taking them by surprise. Margot grinned, well aware of how clever Olivia could be. It was nice to see her opening up, shaking off the stiffness Margot wasn’t used to, relaxing and settling into her skin the way Margot had remembered. She’d missed Olivia’s easy smiles and raunchy jokes and—she’d missed Olivia.
Missed her, full stop.
“Good to know,” Brendon said. “So . . . ?”
Olivia clasped her hands together atop the table. “I just got divorced last year. And while I’m not heartbroken—I’m over it—I was married for almost ten years, so I’ve been enjoying having some time to myself. Getting my career off the ground has been my number one priority.”
Brendon nodded along. “All good points.”
Margot narrowed her eyes, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“But if the right person were to come along, would you be open to dating?” Brendon asked.
“I mean . . . I guess?” Olivia shrugged. “If it was the right person at the right time, I wouldn’t say no to, um . . .” She rolled her lips together as if searching for the right word. “Seeing what could happen?”