“Doesn’t mean much…”

“Does your gaydar go off?” Frazer raised an eyebrow at Lauren.

“Fine.” Lauren collapsed against her chair. “No. It’s just a pity. It’s fun when there’s more of us.” She watched the two women for a moment. “Bummer.”

The bell over the door rang, incredibly faint under all the noise. Lauren’s head turned, and a smirk grew on her lips. “Kind of like her—also a bummer.”

Drink in hand, Frazer turned to see who had caused such a reaction. Who could resist checking out potential talent? Standing in the entrance, hovering as if unsure of whether to enter or not, was Cora. A quick sip of her drink covered Frazer’s wince. So much for not thinking about the programme—and therefore Cora.

Biting her lip, Cora pushed her hair behind her ear and entered the room. She skirted around her husband’s receptionist, gaze glued to the floor, and sat at the opposite end of the bar to Tia. A flush covered her cheeks. Her eyes were downcast as she placed an order with the bartender. Earlier in the day, her eyes had been bright while she gripped Frazer’s arm, the laugh trickling out of her easily as she talked about a project she was excited about.

“Never see her here.”

Frazer took in a deep breath, suddenly desperate to be anywhere else. “Want to get out of here?” She didn’t know what she wanted, but she knew she didn’t want to be in this bar anymore.

Lauren’s eyes lit up. “Sure.”

Regret already lingered like a bad aftertaste as she knocked back the last of her drink and scooted out of the booth after Lauren. The two of them easily wove through the crowd, Frazer following close behind Lauren. Somehow, the bar was even fuller now, with people pressed together in tight groups. The scent of beer and spirits was almost overpowering, and voices and laughter raised higher, drowning out the music. It was just the kind of scene Frazer could usually enjoy herself in, but not tonight. For some reason, it felt hot and oppressive.

Outside, the air was cool and fresh, hinting at the autumn that was starting. The door swung closed, sealing off the ruckus inside. With her hands buried in her pockets, Lauren turned to smile at her, bathed in the light of a streetlight.

“Your place or mine?”

Meaning to say goodnight, Frazer found herself saying, “Yours?”

The delight on Lauren’s face grew, and she turned on her heel. Without another word, Frazer fell in step next to her.

* * *

Sitting alone in a bar was quite depressing.

Cora watched Alec’s receptionist talk loudly with her friend, a woman Cora knew for a fact was the wife of a man Tia’s husband, and Cora’s own, hated. Alec had told her more about it years ago, but Cora couldn’t quite remember. Gossip had never interested her.

Maybe it should have more.

Maybe she would have listened to the rumours at university, the whispers of Alec’s temper with his previous girlfriend.