The brunette shook her head quickly. “No need to say sorry, Lea. You’re a single parent, and Ellie needed you to work something out with your ex, so I fully understand that you need to do these things for her. I had to meet with members of the board individually at some point this year, anyway, so it made sense for me to do those back-to-back meetings by myself ….”

“This works out, actually,” Rian interrupted. “If we go out to the Hamptons for the barbecue, I mean. See, I was given tickets to a concert out in Long Island over the long weekend. So if we’re heading out to the Hamptons to barbecue over at Logan’s place …”

“Then it won’t be as far a commute to the concert from the Hamptons,” Rachel finished her thought, cocking her head to one side. She nudged Rian playfully on her arm. “How many tix you got?”

“A bunch. From a grateful client whose daughter’s production company is behind the New York area stop of the singer’s tour. Client knows I love that music so ….”

“Love, love, love the way everything’s coming together!” Rachel exclaimed, clapping her hands together excitedly.

“Oh, so you think you’re going to the concert, Miss Rachel?” Rian asked, deadpan and serious, one hand on her hip, head cocked to the side.

“Of course, girl! And so is Jia, right?” Rachel reared her head back, matching Rian’s ‘tude, daring Rian to say no.

“Jia, yeah. But you?”

“Plus Tina and I, of course. So you know now that you’re going to need a huge bunch of tickets, Rian,” Bette interjected, playing along. “Because Tina and I are willing to kill for tickets to that concert.”

Jia laughed at the rapid-fire and friendly exchange flying back and forth amongst the three friends about the barbecue and the concert.

To think just this morning, I’d been resigned to not having anything more exciting to do than the depressing task of unpacking more of the stuff delivered by movers yesterday.  About the only thing I thought I could look forward to was a glass or two from the bottle of an expensive French red that I’d splurged on last night.

Things are just getting better, though, especially now, after bumping into Rachel and then meeting this group of super nice people. Not to mention, of course, crashing into the arms of, by far, the sexiest stud I’ve ever made eyes with.