I didn’t need to figure out what I wanted. David was everything a girl could ask for. I just had to take the leap with both feet. That was the hard part, not trying to hang on to the ledge of the cliff with one hand, just in case I had to pull myself back up. Just in case David decided one day to walk away. I’d seen him make plenty of decisions over the time I’d known him, and he did them without waffling or backtracking. Without mercy. So far, that had been to my advantage. But I shuddered to imagine being on the wrong side of what David decided he wanted.
“I was most shocked when I found out about you two,” Brian said, holding out a shot of tequila.
I blinked several times, returning to the conversation. “You and everyone else.”
We each downed our shot, then sucked on a lime slice.
Brian tossed his rind into the empty shot glass and looked me over. “Isn’t it going well? It’s weird that David isn’t out with you. He strikes me as the type to keep one eye on the woman he loves at all times.”
I shifted between feet as a tequila-induced wave of warmth passed over me. Brian already thought David loved me? How could he when he’d only been around us once as a couple?
“David and I . . .” I started. “It’s hard to explain. We care for each other very much, but divorce is tough on everyone involved. There’s a lot of gray area.”
Brian nodded pensively. “You know, I like to tease Dylan. But truth is, I instantly noticed the way he is with you. Different, but in a good way.”
My shoulders eased. “Really?”
He smiled down at me. “Really. You bring out something in him. The circumstances suck, but you are a terrific match.”
My next question tumbled out of my mouth. “Why aren’t I just another one of his girls?”
“Olivia,” Brian said, drawing back with surprise. “Any man with sense about him can see that you’re not that type. And David has a great deal of sense. He doesn’t always use it when it comes to women, I’ll admit. But maybe that’s because he was doing everything in his power to stay sane until you came along.”
I realized I was smiling. Putting it that way bothered me less than thinking he’d slept his way through Chicago. At our barbeque in the park, David had said he’d been looking for “the one” for a while, and his family had seemed to know exactly what he meant. I could definitely envision David—a man used to getting what he wanted—driving himself crazy on his quest.
“And really,” Brian added, “your husband is abominable.”
I smiled. “You just saw the worst side of him.” I rose onto the balls of my feet and thanked Brian with a kiss on the cheek. When I came down, I was met with Gretchen’s grimace.
“Have you seen Greg?” she asked.
“Perhaps,” Brian cut in, nodding to where Bethany still stood with the suits, “he saw you flirting with those gentlemen over there, and rightly high-tailed it out of here.”
Gretchen gave him a blatant scowl.
“That’s attractive,” he said.
“Oh, fuck off, Brian,” she said.
“I will not,” Brian said. “I’m not sorry that I prefer your smile over your scowl.”
She reddened. Her eyebrows furrowed as she seemed unable to decide if he’d complimented or insulted her. I wasn’t really sure myself. After a moment, she scowled harder.
Brian only laughed before sauntering away.
“He issoinfuriating,” Gretchen said.
“Don’t let him get to you.”
“He doesn’tgetto me,” she said, flipping some of her hair over her shoulder. “I couldn’t care less what—oh, there’s Greg.” She ran off.
Brian had moved to the end of the bar, but his eyes stayed narrowed in Gretchen and Greg’s direction.
They really don’t like each other, I thought.
So Brian had suspected David’s feelings for me. And Gretchen had been convinced after spending a little time with us, too. It was clear to everyone that we belonged together. So why wasn’t he here with me now?
I pulled out my cell and looked at the picture I’d taken of David’s profile. Somewhere between buzzed and drunk, I missed him acutely. I’d spent months trying to stay away from him. Now, I didn’t have to. I shouldn’t have to miss him ever—it wasn’t fair. I missed our weekend. I missed his smile. I wanted it back. David had come after me so many times, even knowing I’d keep pushing him away—it was the reason we’d gotten this far. I had to take that risk for him now. Maybe I’d show up on his doorstep, and he’d turn me away. It would hurt, but he knew that more than anyone. He’d never stopped coming to my doorstep. As Gretchen had said, I had to show him I could fight for us, too.
