“Why are you going to High Tide?” Mal asked.

“For drinks,” Len answered quickly, keeping her answer short and simple.

That was my girl. A natural. 

Thoughts like that were dangerous. I had limited time left, especially with the case becoming active once more. I’d be leaving for Quantico before I knew it.

“I thought you loved this place,” Len said to her friend.

“I do, but it doesn’t seem like your scene. You always refuse to come with me,” Mallory said, casting me a look of pure hatred and jealousy.

“Well, I changed my mind.” Len shrugged. “I heard they have great margaritas, so I told Stone we had to come check it out while he was still in town. It felt like a tourist staple he couldn’t miss.”

“It is always packed with tourists,” Mallory agreed. “We could come back for your birthday!”

“Birthday?” I cut in.

“In a few days,” Mallory answered, rolling her eyes. “You know nothing about her, do you?”

So blunt. I held back the frustrated grumble threatening to tumble out. Mallory was insufferable no matter how much I tried to like her for Len’s sake.

“On Saturday,” Len interrupted, diffusing the situation.

It bothered me that I didn’t know when Len‘s birthday was, though I never thought to ask. I didn’t think I’d be sticking around long enough to celebrate it. Mallory had a look of victory on her face that she knew something I didn’t, like she was slowly winning her best friend back. It wasn’t a contest, but somehow, I found myself in the middle of a competition.

I needed to find a gift and put something together for Len. My mind was distracted, brainstorming ideas; I didn’t even realize we made it to the pub. We walked inside, and immediately, Len froze.

Gently, I took her hand and led her further toward a table so she could sit and I could find her a water. Mal caught sight of the movement and scowled in my direction. She linked her arm through Len’s other one and dragged her off to a booth away from me.

As she passed the bar, she said, “two margaritas,” then continued toward the open seats.

The woman behind it tilted her head at me, as if she expected me to bark an order at her as well. Instead, I opened my wallet, grabbed a few bills, and placed them on the counter.

“That’s for theirs, and I’ll just take a water, please,” I said with a smile.

Her features softened, and she smiled back. “I’ll bring them over to the table.”

I met Lenny and Mal at the booth and sat across from them. I knew we wouldn’t be able to talk freely about the case, not with Len’s best friend joining us.