“Not that you’d have any use for something like that, right Harley? I mean, I’m sure Jack gives you what you need,” I said, with a hollow conviction.

Some of Harley’s cool and calm demeanor peeled away as she straightened up and stood away from the counter.

“Ja-a-ack?” she asked slowly, in a manner that loaded the one-word question heavily with meaning. Her eyes were boring into mine.

“Hmm… Jack does seem to be packing something … based on that bulge that seems to come out even when he’s dressed formally in a tux and everything,” Annie laughed, but then waved her hand dismissively. “However, that doesn’t matter because there is absolutely zero chemistry between you and him, Harley.”

Harley shook her head slightly, and flicked a glance at Annie. She turned stiffly away from me to take my espresso cup and our mugs from earlier to the sink, electing to keep her own counsel, for the moment.

I restrained from looking at Harley, and refocused on Katy, who was still recovering from my big reveal. She eyed me nervously over the rim of her cup. “You never know what’s going on in a couple’s bedroom, Annie,” Katy told her friend off gently.

I gave her a small smile, and mouthed, “I’m still me, Katy.”

She shook her head at that, and laughed as she set her cup down. She drew me into a friendly embrace. We exchanged a light laugh as we drew apart.

“Something just happen there?” Annie asked as she set her cup down.

“Just me being silly, and Aerin being nice,” Katy answered as she picked her cup up.

“You and Aerin exchange anything else other than hugs like they just did, Harley?” Annie asked with a grating, teasing tone as she turned her attention back to Harley, and then drained her cup.

Harley’s shoulder muscles tensed at first as she gripped the edge of the counter surrounding the sink, her back still to us. Then after a minute, they relaxed, and she turned gracefully towards us, smiled at me and started to answer, “As a matter of fact …”

My phone rang out loudly.   I pulled it out quickly, and half-exclaimed to drown Harley out again, “Oh, wait! Gotta take this!”