LEXIE
The evening wound down slowly. Crow ate three slices of cake and tried to negotiate a fourth with Mia, who shut that down with the efficiency of someone who had dealt with Crow's negotiation tactics many times before.
People drifted off gradually the way they did on weeknights. The two members from the back table left first, both of them stopping to say something brief and genuine to me on the way out. One of them patted my shoulder once, gruff and quick, and I found I didn't mind at all.
Crow lasted until Mia started stacking chairs and then took the hint with surprising grace, kissing her on the cheek and pointing at me on his way to the door. "Best birthday?" he said.
"Top five," I said.
"Top five," he repeated, satisfied, and left.
Mia finished stacking her side of the roo
