As Roland removed his arm from around Audrey, Oliver said, “Maybe we’ll see you on your way back.”

Her apartment was starting to feel like a bulging suitcase where every time you tried to close it, a sock (or in this case, a person) popped out in the way of the zipper. But when three different friends—Eve, Max and herself—invited everyone they knew, that guaranteed a good crowd.

But Tim had not come, and Jake seemed to be fully occupied serving as the party DJ. At this point, it looked like neither of them was interested in her. Her friends must think she was completely delusional.

It was only an hour into the party, so Tim could still show up and Jake could start hanging out with her. She reminded herself that the purpose of the party was to kick off Eve’s catering business and introduce her cooking to as many of their workaholic friends as possible. Secondary to that was her opportunity to interact with Jake again in a party setting and Tim in a non-work setting—and let her friends judge if either was romantically interested.

She’d had her caramel-blond hair highlighted and blow-dried so it fell in waves around her face. She was wearing a sophisticated midnight-blue dress that brought out the blue of her eyes, or so the salesgirl had told her. And she was even wearing heels—sparkly sapphire heels that had been an impulse buy. Jake’s eyes had widened when he’d seen her as if he was impressed, but then he’d just made a “buddy” comment that she cleaned up nicely. The comment wasn’t totally unwarranted. That morning, he’d popped over, having arrived home from London earlier in the week, and helped her move most of her furniture against her whitewashed exposed brick wall to prepare for the party. Not having expected him, she’d had her hair in a ponytail and been wearing sweats. So much for following Max’s advice to be wearing lingerie! And then he’d rushed off to meet his mom. But now she’d heeded Max’s advice to dress up.

With several “excuse me’s” and holding the ice bucket aloft, Audrey skirted around a group of Max’s friends and entered the kitchen. Pete was carefully chopping basil in one corner, wearing one of Eve’s aprons. The flowery apron was quite a contrast to Pete’s muscular frame, but he looked at home. Eve and Pete were chatting comfortably as Eve placed another tray into the oven. She was managing to keep the food flowing using Audrey’s kitchen as her base. This also gave her a chance to meet guests.

“The food is a huge hit. People keep telling me how delicious it is,” Audrey said.

“It’s going well so far,” Eve said, looking pleased. “Several have come into the kitchen to tell me. One asked me to cater a Hamptons party.”