“I agree.”
“But not as delicious as your vanilla cake with buttercream frosting.”
“Which is why you’re my friend and not Stacy’s.”
He extended the cake back to her, one of his eyebrows hitching up. He was asking her without words if she wanted some of the cake.
“Don’t mind if I do.”
She used the same fork he’d used to section off a bite. Stacy really had made an excellent effort with this cake. It was just a little too dense and a little too sweet. Otherwise, very admirable.
She handed the cake back to him. He handed it back to her. In that way, they polished off the slice the way they’d polished off so many dishes in the past.
His laptop rested on the desk positioned in front of the room’s large window. The yellow legal pad he used for notes, research, brainstorming, and more lay beside his computer. One coffee mug and a pen sat on top of the pad. Three books formed a pillar on his bedside table. The rest of his belongings must have been put away, because no other evidence of him existed except for a delectable hint of his scent in the air.
“Reid moved to town a couple of months ago,” Britt said. “He’s friends with Hannah’s boyfriend, Kyle. Hannah asked me if Reid could come tonight so that Kyle would have someone other than her to hang out with. Inviting Reid was my attempt to organize a playdate for grown men in order to make Hannah happy.”
He regarded her steadily.
“I wouldn’t have invited him, however, if I’d known it would makeyouunhappy. And I’m sorry about the surly look I gave you after Reid spilled his drink on you. You were an innocent bystander,but of the two of you, you were also the one I knew had the ability to keep his cool.”
“I almost didn’t. Keep my cool.”
“But you’re an honorable person, and so you did.”
“I was on my way to becoming a dishonorable person back when I met you, Britt. Honor sometimes feels like a jacket that’s too tight.”
“No way. You were born with an honorable soul, Zander.”
“I wasn’t. If I’m honorable at all, it’s because of you.”
Her heart kicked, then drummed. “Well.” She dashed a trailing piece of hair back into her bun. “Thank you for resisting the urge to brawl with Reid in the middle of the restaurant. Brawls tend to bring the atmosphere of a party way down.”
“I can’t stand that guy.”
“I noticed.” She tipped her head. “Was he reallythatbad, though?”
“Yes.”
“I found him only slightly tiresome.”
“I found him hugely tiresome.”
“He was entertaining,” she said cajolingly. “He seemed to get along well with most of the guests.”
“Please, keep going,” Zander said, deadpan. “I’d love to hear a long list of Reid’s sterling qualities.”
She laughed. “Zander! You’re not making this easy for me.”
“No.” He gave her a begrudging smile undergirded with both sheepishness and a trace of ferocity.
She’d been imagining that she’d show up here and say she was sorry and that he’d immediately forgive her. Maybe even say he was sorry for his rudeness toward Reid.
He wasn’t behaving as contritely as she’d hoped.
“How about you tell me what’s bothering you?” She waited for a long moment.
“Frank’s death.”
