Katherine was already 15 minutes late and I knew it was on purpose. Not a power play – Katherine knew she had the power, knew that we knew, and didn’t have to prove it. No, this was about leaving Bec and me alone together in a sullen silence that we would either get used to or get over.
Bec had already been here, nursing her drink, when I arrived at the mostly empty bar. It was early in the afternoon. I would have preferred white wine, but the tension and averted eyes called for bourbon, which I ordered and drank quickly.
Bec looked over my shoulder just as Katherine appeared behind me, her hand brushing my shoulders and coming to rest on the back of my neck as a sort of consolation, while she leaned to kiss Bec’s upturned lips. She didn’t kiss mine. Then she took the third seat at the table. Round table, triangular configuration of women. All geometrically equal and balanced. Not like real life.
I swallowed the rest of my drink and reached for my coat.