“So, where have you been lately?” Robert asked them through mouthfuls of the chips and salsa they were sharing. “I think this is the first time any of us have really seen either one of you since you moved in together a few months ago.”

“We were all debating on what excuses you two would come up with to avoid coming out to my birthday. We’ve missed ya.” Karen joked sipping on her margarita.

Claudia and Ryan gazed at each other from across the table, both filled with various mental pictures from the past few months, and simultaneously grinned. “Oh, ya know.” he said nonchalantly, “We’ve just been getting settled in after the move.”

They kept up with the conversations, smiling slyly in the others direction. A faint blush formed across her cheeks and he felt her toes slide up his leg into his lap. Without a word they were both leaping out of their seats, making excuses about early mornings, and hurriedly scampering out of the restaurant.

“They made it through most of dinner, at least.” Karen chuckled.