Rain lashed against the windows of the café, mirroring the tempest inside Amelia. She tapped her manicured nails on the table, the rhythmic drumming a counterpoint to the nervous flutter in her chest. Across from her, a woman with fiery red hair and a matching temper was describing the most romantic weekend she'd ever had. Amelia's date, Liam, apparently took her to Tuscany. Tuscany. He’d promised Amelia the same, just last month. A small, tight knot formed in her stomach. “And the food!” the red-haired woman gushed, gesturing dramatically with a fork. Amelia’s jaw clenched. She would not let this woman see her flinch.
“How… interesting,” Amelia managed, her voice clipped. She reached for her espresso, the bitterness a welcome contrast to the saccharine story. The espresso’s warmth didn’t reach the ice forming around her heart.
The other woman, whose name Amelia had finally gathered was Chloe, prattled on. Chloe had a smug air that grated on Amelia. Amelia refused to let Chloe see how thoroughly she was being undermined.
Amelia’s eyes narrowed. “You know,” she said, her voice dangerously smooth, “Liam is a very… *generous* person.” She forced a smile, a predatory glint in her eyes. “I’m sure he enjoys making *multiple* people happy.”