“So, yeah we could hang out,” she started, hesitatingly. “That’s if, you know, if you’re not doing anything, and we could, erm, have a drink or something?”

Rachel broke in in a peppy tone as Jia continued to falter. “Cool. Why don’t I pick the bar and the first rounds will be on me?”

Rian groaned dramatically. “Don’t accept that, Jia! Rachel always tries to score freebies at the bars she picks, because they’re so impressed by her film world connections, and then they give us these “house drinks” that use second rate gin or vodka that taste like bleeahhh. Let’s get someone else to pick.” Rachel pretended to frown and then elbowed Rian lightly on her side.

After they shared a quick laugh, Jia licked her lips and answered in as casual a tone as she could manage, “Erm … how about Tiler? Why don’t we ask her? She could join us, right? I have a feeling she’d know a good bar or two.”

Not knowing the background of what transpired earlier, Bette harrumphed. “Hah! She does know a bar or two or ten or a hundred – at least that’s what I hear from Tina. Don’t get into drinking games with her though, because Tina says she can drink anyone under the table … ”

Rachel and Rian exchanged a look. “Um … so invite Tiler, huh?”

Jia affected a casual shrug. “Yeah, why not? She’s a gamer, right? At least, that’s the sense I got. Unless she can’t hang out with us, or is seeing someone?”

Now that wasn’t subtle at all. Rachel and Rian exchanged another look, shaking their heads. Tiler’s done it again.

“Erm … we’re not going there, Jia… that’s a question you should be asking her yourself.”

Instead of answering, Jia fell quiet suddenly, and her eyes were darting around, a touch nervously.

When she didn’t respond after few beats more, Rian leaned closer to whisper, “If your near-brush with the hard, concrete floor brought up bad memories, in the next few days watch for signs of rritability, rapid heart rate, higher blood pressure, headaches, stuff like that. If you’re open to it, call me. Anytime, day or night. I can come over. We can talk. Ok?   I may have stay on here in New York this week, beyond Wednesday….”