I pull into a parking space on Wilmington Street about a block away from the Busy Bee Cafe where Adam and I are meeting Yuri and his girlfriend. When I step out of my car—Senia’s old Ford Focus that she gave me the day I moved into the dorm—Adam is walking along the sidewalk toward me. Just watching him, the way he walks with that easy confidence that comes so natural to him, I know that the next two months are going to be hell.
We walk along the sidewalk together in silence, but I can’t help but smile as the girls who pass us in the opposite direction ogle him. From the corner of my eye, I can see him look at me then he gives my hand a gentle squeeze.
“What are you smiling about? Are you happy to be getting rid of me?”
“Just happy to have you.”
He kisses my temple as he reaches for the door at the Busy Bee. I step inside and I’m treated to the most amazing smells, like garlic fries and tacos. I instantly start salivating as the hostess asks how many are in our party.
“We’re looking for our friends,” Adam says and the hostess smiles at him. “A little guy that looks like a darker, sexier version of Keanu Reeves.”
If the girl weren’t wearing a pound of blush, I’m sure I could see her cheeks flush red. Adam doesn’t understand the effect he has on girls. It’s both adorable and infuriating.
“I think they’re in the back.” She pulls a couple of menus from the rack and nods toward the dining area. “I’ll take you there.”
She leads us to a table in the back of the dining room and Yuri’s eyes open wide with excitement at the sight of us. He and Adam engage in a quick, slap-on-the-back guy-hug then Yuri moves in to hug me. I’m surprised by this gesture and I end up giving him an awkward pat on the arm when he releases me.
“Claire, I’ve heard so much about you,” Yuri proclaims excitedly. “This is Lena, the servant of my loins.” Lena punches him in the arm and he laughs. “I mean, the goddess of my universe.”
Lena looks like a female version of Yuri. They have the same golden tanned skin that seems to glisten even in the dim restaurant lighting. They also have the same dark, almond-shaped eyes that glimmer with mischief.
Lena holds out her hand to me as I take a seat. “Nice to meet you, Claire. Don’t pay attention to him. He’s compensating, if you know what I mean.”
I try not to laugh as I shake her hand, but the what-the-fuck look on Yuri’s face kills me. The hostess rolls her eyes as she leaves our menus on the table in front of Adam and mutters something about our server then quickly leaves.
“We’ve been here five seconds and you’ve already offended the hostess. You two should be ashamed of yourselves,” Adam says as he passes me a menu. “What are you all drinking?”
Lena holds up her frosty glass. “We’re both drinking the cream ale. It’s fucking delicious.”
“Not as delicious as my homemade cream ale,” Yuri mutters before he takes a few huge gulps from his glass.
“Dude, can you show a little respect for Adam’s guest?” Lena snipes at him before she turns to me. “So what are you studying at UNC?”
“Sociology. I’m a year behind so I’m doubling up on my units this year to try to catch up.”
“Double units? What are you doing here with these losers?” Lena says with a playful smile.
“Speaking of losers,” Adam interjects. “Did you bring the trophy?”
“It’s in my trunk with all the rest of my junk,” Yuri replies.
The waitress takes our drink orders and we both get an iced tea. I don’t say anything, but I’m glad Adam isn’t drinking today. He orders some tacos and I order a bacon cheeseburger, which puts a smile on Yuri’s face.
“I like a girl who isn’t afraid to eat a juicy burger.”
“Don’t talk to my girl that way,” Adam says, and I can’t tell if he’s kidding, but Yuri’s raised eyebrows tell me he probably isn’t.
I’ve only hung out with two of Adam’s friends before and I admit I was a bit inebriated from the champagne cocktails on my twenty-first birthday. I don’t remember him making any possessive comments that night, but I’ve always known about his temper. And he did admit to me that the reason he was on probation and forced to attend anger management classes was because he beat the shit out of the guy he caught his ex-girlfriend cheating on him with six months ago.
I brush off the comment and we make it through the rest of the meal without further incidents, until Adam asks what happened with the job interview I went on Thursday afternoon.
“They called me back yesterday,” I say as I push my plate away and reach for my glass of water. I take a nice, long drink as I attempt to stall.