Save the Date Read Free Page A

feeling dazed and hoping whatever had Rach upset wasn’t a big deal.
    When the phone rang again, I tensed. Luckily, it was just a customer wanting to be transferred to the sales department. I pressed the appropriate buttons, announced the client, then sent the call.
    Easy, and stress-free.
    If only my coworkers could be that way, I’d be set.
    ****
    Rach, Ellen, and I strolled several blocks to Cherie’s Café in downtown Sac for lunch. Once we were seated and had ordered, I waited for Rach to drop her bomb.
    Instead, Ellen, who I’d been friends with since high school, patted my hand and gave me a proud look as if I were a two-year-old who’d peed on the potty. “How’s your first day back at work? Everything going smoothly? Do you like it?”
    I rolled my eyes. “Yes, Mom. I mastered my times tables, and got a sticker from the teacher.”
    Rach snickered.
    Ellen found my joke less amusing, as evidenced by her narrowed eyes. “I’m concerned about you, Kristen. Gina says you’ve been listening to Adele.”
    Her tone made it sound like I’d resorted to drinking.
    My mouth dropped open. “One month. Everyone’s entitled to a little Adele after a break-up. Then, I rebounded with Kelly Clarkson.”
    Rach raised a finger. “Kelly totally helped me through my break-up with Jeremy.”
    I reached for my water glass. “You see?”
    Ellen seemed slightly mollified. “Still, you haven’t dated. What you need is a fling to get back in the game. Henry has a friend—”
    “No way.” I brought my hands to my chest. “The last thing I need right now is another man. I’m focusing on me.”
    Ellen leaned forward. “How? You’ve closed your practice, and you don’t leave the house.”
    “I went to Folsom Lake with Rach and Noah this weekend. He took us out on his new boat.” I’d have to thank Gina for forcing me out the door, thus giving me a retort for Ellen.
    “You did? Really?” She eyed my arms, then my face, as if she didn’t believe me.
    Like I’d get a tan. As a red-head, my creamy complexion burns easily, and do I want to increase my chances for skin cancer? No, thanks. “Yes, really. I wore a hat and SPF-50.”
    Ellen suddenly turned to Rach. “Why weren’t Henry and I invited?”
    Rach’s eyes went wide. “I, uh . . .”
    Although it would’ve been funny to see Rach squirm, I decided to bail her out. “It wasn’t a plot to exclude you, Ellen. She and Noah were going on their own, then Gina begged her to invite me.”
    After the waiter set our plates down in front of us and left, Ellen lifted her fork. “You see? Gina’s worried about you, too.”
    Whoops. I walked right into that one. “Nobody needs to worry about me. Everything’s hunky-dory. Why don’t you spread your love on Rach? She’s the one with a problem.”
    Rach’s face tensed. “That’s putting it mildly.”
    Ellen twirled her angel-hair pasta onto her fork. “What’s going on, sweetie?”
    Rach buried her face into her hands. “I’m afraid Noah’s going to dump me.”
    My eyes widened in shock since her boyfriend was pretty amazing. Correction, he seemed amazing. He could be going home to his dearly beloved on weekends for all I knew. Except not this weekend, since we were all going out on Noah’s boat to celebrate my thirtieth birthday. “You guys were fine last Saturday. Did you find out he was married?”
    She threw me a look. “Don’t even joke.”
    “It happens.” I shrugged. “Can’t blame me for checking.”
    Her face contorted as if she were sick. “Noah’s ex-girlfriend, Kate, is coming into town on Friday and they’re going out to dinner. They were together for two years before he moved here, and almost got engaged.”
    Ellen reached for her water. “She’s flying up to visit Noah? That’s odd.”
    Rach flattened her palms on the table. “He claims she’ll be here for business.”
    “What does she do?” Okay, I had career on the brain, but who knew when the perfect profession would cross