“You guys met him at my engagement party,” Lucy said to Gretchen and me. “David Dylan.”
No. With the way our end of the table went completely silent, I was sure they could hear my heart hit the ground.
David.MyDavid. He was nowDani’sDavid?
“It’s still new,” Lucy added, “which is why I haven’t mentioned it.”
Ava’s eyebrows knit. Bethany reminded her David was “that tall, dark, and gorgeous hunk of meat from the restaurant grand opening we attended in May” before declaring she was “supremely jealous.”
I fielded a sidelong glance from Gretchen. She hadn’t mentioned David since the night I’d confessed my feelings to her. Not that I’d let our conversations go that way. She didn’t know what I’d done, but I hated that she knew anything at all.
“You . . . you lucky bitch,” Gretchen joked awkwardly. “I’ve had my eye on him for a while. How did that happen?”
Dani’s eyes brightened. “Well, I was in town last month for some wedding planning, and Lucy set us up. He took all of us out on hissailboat,” she said, and added with a giddy grin, “no big deal, right?”
“Can you imagine having David Dylan as a brother-in-law?” Lucy asked. “I’d never stop staring!”
“Hands off,” Dani said.
My stomach churned. I didn’t even think I could handle running into David without breaking down—now there was a chance he’d become part off my social circle?
Did this mean he was coming to thewedding?
“I’m trying to convince Dani to move to Chicago,” Lucy said, “and having her fall in love with David is part of my master plan.”
Dani rolled her eyes. “She acts like Milwaukee is another country.”
“You’re here all the time anyway,” Lucy pointed out.
I was going to be sick. I spun my wedding ring at the same pace that my mind whirred. The girl across from me was Danielle officially, but insisted on being called Dani. She had a petite frame and Lucy’s dark brown hair, but green eyes like mine.
“I’ll be honest, I thought David was something of a womanizer,” Lucy said, “but they’ve been out twice, and he hasn’t even made a move.”
“He’ssucha gentleman,” Dani added.
Gentleman.My insides tightened at the term, and I gripped my thighs. He was no gentleman. He was rough and harsh and callous but also tender and sweet and considerate. The memory of how he’d handled me flowed through me, and I bit my lip.
He deserved someone like Dani, didn’t he? She was cute, wholesome, and spunky. And most importantly—available.
“He’s flying back just to be her date,” Lucy said, and everyone twittered.
Oh God. He’d be back in my life in less than forty-eight hours. “Flying?” I asked hoarsely before I could stop myself. “From where?”
“New York,” Dani answered as though the information was nothing. As if it didn’t feed my starved curiosity about what he’d been doing since I’d last seen him. “He’s an architect,” she continued, “and he’s working on a project there. Originally, he said he couldn’t make it because of work, which I thought was weird because itisLabor Day weekend, but he changed his mind all of a sudden.”
“I think this istheweekend.” Lucy waggled her eyebrows. “Like David and Dani mightfinally. . . well, you know. I secretly suspect David is super romantic and that he’s planning something special—”
I shot up from my seat, unable to listen to another word. This didn’t feel like exciting information I could secretly mull over later. The idea of David and Dani together was actuallysickening. “Excuse me,” I said.
“Do you want company?” Gretchen asked, moving to get up.
I sighed inwardly, wanting nothing more than to run away and cry, but my self-preservation instincts kicked in. “No. I’m fine.” I gave them a big smile. “I’m actually going to call Bill and tell him I miss him.”
The table cooed. Lucy nearly melted in her chair.
“What can I say?” I shrugged. “All this wedding talk has me feeling romantic.”
I made a show of retrieving my phone and went to stand outside in the warm night. Warm, yes, but I was cold. I was always cold to the bone lately. I didn’t call Bill as I’d said I would, but took a moment to collect myself.
