My stomach jumps when she turns and our eyes connect.
“Ian! It’s so good to see you again.” Olive steps away from Maggie, and I give her a one-armed hug, never taking my eyes off Maggie.
A smug smile threatens to split my face when Maggie’s eyes narrow in a glare directed straight at Olive for a brief moment before she quickly recovers and smooths her expression. As I release Olive, I decide to take a chance. I sling an arm over Maggie’s shoulders and pull her in to my side. Before she can push me away, I plant a quick kiss on the top of her head, not wasting the opportunity to inhalethe scent of her shampoo. I nearly laugh at the gasp that leaves Ella from across the kitchen.
“Hey, Mags, glad you’re here,” I say quietly against her head.
She seems to be too shocked to respond when I see her staring at me, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly ajar. I give her a wink and walk to the fridge, putting the beer I brought next to the multiple twelve-packs already inside. Grabbing one of the colder cans, I turn back to find Ella looking amused, Maggie looking annoyed, and Olive looking confused.
With a chuckle, I raise my beer in a mock salute. “Ladies.” Then, with my nerves bouncing all over the place, I walk outside to find Nate and Jack sitting around the table out back.
“Ian!” Nate calls out, throwing his hands up in greeting.
I slap him on the shoulder as I pass his chair to take the one on the opposite side of him. “I see you haven’t scared Olive off yet with your insane romantic notions.”
He smirks and grabs his beer off the table. Before taking a sip, he says, “Nah, she isn’t going anywhere. Unfortunately for her and thankfully for me, she’s stuck with me.”
His blissful expression has me reining in my jealousy. I’m happy for both of my best friends. For most of my life, I didn’t think falling in love or having a long-term relationship was in the cards for me. Pamela has helped me recognize why I feel that way. It still makes me skeptical that it’s something that’ll happen for me, but thanks to these two men, I have much less negative feelings toward all of it.
But if it did happen for me, Maggie would be it. For that, I’m sure.
I just have to convince her. Again.
15
Maggie
Ian kissed me.
It’s fine.
I’m fine.
Ella slowly spins in my direction, her eyes wide and filled with surprise and what looks like a glint of happiness.
“Don’t,” I say with a nervous laugh.
She puts both hands up in a defensive gesture. “I wasn’t going to say a word.”
I roll my eyes and take a sip of my wine.
“I feel like I’m missing something…” Olive drawls, her head tilted.
I turn in her direction, ignoring my friend. “It’s really nothing. Ian and I have, ya know,been together. And our relationship is, I guess you could say, strained?”
She nods. “Oh, okay. That makessense. I don’t know him super well, but Ian seems like a good guy. Why is it strained?”
Not wanting to discuss the details, I deflect her question. “Too much to get into right now. Besides, this is supposed to be a party, not my relationship, or lack thereof, therapy session.”
It’s Ella’s turn to roll her eyes. “Whatever. I’m going to get the story out of one of you, eventually.”
My heart seizes at the thought of Ella hearing the story from Ian. I can’t imagine what she would think of me if she knew the horrible, mean things I said to him last year. Not that I would lie if I were the one to tell her, but maybe I can find a way to explain it that makes sense. I can never justify what I said. I’ll feel guilty about it for the rest of my life, but I would like to be the one to tell my friend about what I did.
“I’ll tell you, just not today,” I placate.
Olive suggests helpfully with a smile, “We can have a girls’ night out, and you can tell us all about it over dinner and drinks.”
“That sounds great.” A genuine smile pulls at my lips. I’m not lying. It really does. My only wish is that I could fully confide in them the way I want to, about everything in my life. That wish will never come true, but it’d be nice.
