Isn't It Bromantic (Bromance Book Club #4) by Lyssa Kay Adams

            “What are you going to do while I’m here?”

            “I think I’ll go to Alexis’s café and get you some more gluten-free cookies.”

            “She will be happy to see you.”

            They stared at each other awkwardly. Elena bit her lip. “Um . . .”

            He smiled. “Come here.”

            She rose on tiptoe as he dipped his face toward hers. And there, in full view of the entire training staff, he kissed her. “See you in a little while,” he said.

            Elena wondered as she walked back out to the car if it was normal at her age to still feel the kind of teeth-tingling giddiness of a teenage girl. Whether normal or not, she felt it. And soon, the entire team staff was going to likely know about it. Not just that Vlad’s wife had been there, and not just that he’d kissed her, but that she walked out grinning and sighing like the front row of a Harry Styles concert.

            When she walked into ToeBeans a few minutes later, Alexis once again spotted her immediately and greeted her with the same enthusiasm as the first time.

            “Elena!” Alexis raced over and hugged her. All of Vlad’s friends were huggers. She was trying to get used to it. Alexis pulled back. “I’m so glad you’re here. Is Vlad with you?”

            “No, I just dropped him off at the arena for rehab.” Elena’s face grew warm. She hadn’t seen Alexis since the disaster at the party. “I’m sorry about what happened the other night.”

            Alexis shook her head and waved a dismissive hand. “No need to apologize. We all rather enjoyed seeing Vlad lose it over you.”

            Elena blinked rapidly for a moment. “You did?”

            “That man wears his entire heart on his sleeve, and it’s all yours.” Alexis shrugged with giddiness. “We’re so happy that you two are trying to work it out.”

            At whatever expression must have crossed Elena’s face, Alexis winced. “I’m sorry. That was rather personal. I’m not trying to pry.”

            “No, don’t apologize. It’s just all very . . . new. I don’t really know what to say.”

            “I understand,” Alexis said. “When Noah and I finally got together after being just friends for a long time, I was so scared to jinx it. It’s scary when a relationship changes from one thing to another.”

            For some reason, Elena felt herself opening up to Alexis. “There are things I need to figure out.”

            “Of course.”

            “I still want to be a journalist.”

            “And you should try to find a way to make it happen.”

            “I just have a lot of questions about the requirements of my visa and . . . sorry. I don’t know why I’m dumping this on you.”

            “Because I asked, and because we are becoming friends, I hope.”

            “I hope so too.”

            “I don’t know if this helps or not, but a good friend of mine is an immigration attorney. She specializes in asylum cases, but maybe you could talk to her.”

            “Yes, I—I would love that. Thank you.”

            “Her office is just up the street, actually. You probably passed it. Her name is Gretchen Winthrop. I’d be happy to let her know you might be calling.”

            Elena filed the name away in her memory as she nodded. “That would be incredible. Thank you.” She laughed self-consciously again. “You’ve all been so nice to me when you didn’t have to be.”

            “Are most people not nice?”

            “In my world, yes.”

            “Well,” Alexis said, laying a gentle hand on Elena’s arm. “You’re in a different world now. And we care about one another in this one.”

            Once again, before she could formulate a response, Alexis plunged forward into the next subject. “Anyway, I have been seriously dreaming about your blinis from the party. They were so good.”