Vivienne's POV
Ella called at two seventeen in the afternoon.
I know the exact time because I was sitting at my table at The Harlow watching Charles carry a tray to the far end of the restaurant and my phone lit up on the white linen beside my water glass and Ella's name appeared and I looked at it for three full seconds before answering because I already knew, with the particular certainty that comes from knowing someone for twelve years, exactly why she was calling.
"Where are you?" she said.
"The Harlow."
A pause measured enough to contain everything she wanted to say about that and was choosing to save for a more strategic moment.
"I need to see you," she said. "Today. Not a group thing. Just us."
"Ella."
"Just us, Vivienne." Her voice carried the specific texture it got when s
