Did she steal you?

It took a whole minute for Zaria to react to what her friend had just said. A laugh escaped her lips. "Yup. You're dreaming." 

"He does. I'm sure even Nina can tell." Ximena insisted. "He has been treating you so well for years. Just how much of a blockhead are you to not be able to know this?" 

"We are friends, Xim." Zaria was helpless. 

The woman tilted her head as if she heard the most insane kind of reason. "And that's not a reason for him to not like you. Who said friends should not fall in love? Besides, look at you. Beautiful face, perfect figure. Nice bottom…" 

Ximena had not whispered, so the other patrons who were within earshot heard her words. Zaria could feel their eyes scanning her and checking out her bottom—including women and a pair of teenage girls. She so badly wanted to drown in the blueberry ice cream that was starting to melt in her porcelain oval plate.