At Your Most Beautiful by Harper Bliss (best free ereader .TXT) 📗

Maya said with confidence because it usually was. Still, there was a slight chance it was Beverly. They had agreed to go on another date sooner rather than later, possibly next weekend. Maybe Beverly was texting because she couldn’t wait to set it up.

But when Maya checked her phone, the message she’d just received was neither from Tommy nor Beverly. It was from Quinn.

I haven’t finished work on your picture yet, but I was thinking about you. Do you have time for coffee sometime this week? Quinn

Maya had barely read the first message when a second one came in.

You can tell me all about your date. ;-)

“What’s that all about?” Angus asked. “Judging by that grin you can barely hold back, it must be some exciting news.”

“It’s Quinn.” Maya didn’t know what to make of Quinn’s message—nor about Angus’ comment about that grin. As far as she knew, she’d kept her face perfectly expressionless.

“Ooh. What does hot girl want?” Angus had a naturally energetic voice but now he sounded as though he’d swallowed a bolt of lightning.

“To go for coffee and to ask how my date went.”

“How very sweet of her.” He all but slapped his thigh. “She probably wants to know what she’s up against.”

“What are you talking about?” Maya looked at the messages on her screen again.

“Don’t play dumb with me, dear. We’ve had this conversation before, remember? I’m only reminding you because you seem to conveniently want to forget about it although I don’t quite understand why.”

“We seem to have drawn totally opposite conclusions from the conversation.” Was Angus really insinuating Quinn wanted to date Maya—and vice versa?

“What are you going to reply?” Angus ignored Maya’s admonishing completely. He was very skilled at only hearing what he wanted to hear.

“I don’t know yet. I need to think about it.”

“Aaah, come on, throw an old fellow a bone.” He flashed her a wide smile. “You know I don’t get out much anymore, and right now you’re my window to the very exciting outside world.”

Maya rolled her eyes in a way that could rival Angus’ impressive eye-rolling expertise. “You’re so theatrical. Honestly. Thanks, by the way, for reducing me to your entertainment of the day.”

“I don’t mean it like that, Maya. Come on.” He pursed his lips. “I’m not going to lie. Since you moved into the building, you’ve brightened up my life considerably. It’s not every day a gorgeous lady like yourself moves in across the hall. I can’t help it that I knew we would be great friends from the very first time you rounded the corner in those bright-red Louboutins.”

Despite herself, Maya had to chuckle. She felt the same way about Angus—minus the shoes—and especially during her first few weeks in the city he’d been an equally bright spot in her day, always there to cheer her up with a hilarious observation that took her mind off the insecurities that came with such a big life change. Angus made her laugh and their banter acted as a reminder to not take herself too seriously.

She took a sip of coffee, which reminded her of Quinn’s suggestion they go for coffee. At least she wasn’t suggesting cocktails.

“How would you reply to Quinn’s message?” Maya was throwing Angus a big juicy bone by asking him that.

He nodded as though he was giving it a great deal of thought. “It’s just coffee,” he said, after a while. “Maybe you can be friends.”

Maya shook her head. “Bring back the real Angus, please.”

Angus broke into a huge, toothy smile. “Don’t overthink it, Maya. Just say yes already. You and I both know you want to.”

When she was back in her own apartment, Maya sat with her phone in her hands. She still hadn’t replied. She decided to follow Angus’ advice and started typing.

Coffee sounds good. My date went very well, thanks for asking.

She erased the last sentence. It didn’t feel right to give Quinn that information. Before she pressed ‘Send’, she added:

How about Tuesday?

Maya had barely had time to take a breath before the reply came in.

I’m doing a shoot in the afternoon, but I’m free in the evening. Shall we make it drinks or dinner instead?

Maya expelled a small sigh. The last text reminded her very much of the Quinn of ten years ago—of the person she’d spent that passionate night with. This was New York, where coffee houses were open twenty-four seven. It wasn’t because Quinn was only free in the evening that coffee—which had a different connotation to it than drinks, and most certainly than dinner—had to be replaced with cocktails. On the other hand, Maya had already agreed to coffee, so why the hell not go for a drink later in the day instead? Don’t overthink it, she repeated Angus’ words in her head. Just do it. She agreed to drinks on Tuesday evening. As they were discussing a time and place, another text message came in.

I know I said it last night, but I just have to repeat myself (again): I had a lovely time with you. Are you free for dinner sometime this week? Beverly. xo

Maya let a smile curl up her lips. Wasn’t this why she had moved here? To discover her true self, although she didn’t think she had that much discovering left to do. The absence of female romantic interests in her life hadn’t made her less aware of what it was she really wanted—on the contrary. But there had always been something holding Maya back. Until now. Maya ended the text conversation with Quinn and focused on Beverly.

While they exchanged messages, and she waited for a reply, Maya wondered what she would have been doing on an ordinary Sunday afternoon back in Milbury. She wouldn’t have gone on a date to a glitzy restaurant with another woman the night before. She wouldn’t have been texting with Quinn Hathaway because she’d never have run into her on a photo shoot for work. And it wasn’t very likely that she would have