Julia’s grin widens. “We’ll see. I could get a Super Soaker and make this a thing.”
The sound of laughter eases the knot of worry in my chest.
“All right, let’s get to the shopping part. Where is that shop you wanted to stop at, Maya? The one with aspen-shaped candles you want by the wedding guest book.”
Maya waits a beat, chewing on her lip. “Reese... you can’twalk around drenched in wine. You’re asking for trouble. We should probably head back home after we drop Lola off.”
“What? Please don’t leave because of me.” I tug on the hemline of my wet blouse, the fabric sticking to me like glue. “I’m fine.”
“Look at your hands—they’re still shaking. Your health is more important than candles. Besides, we all rode here together, so we should all leave together.”
“You’ve been planning this for weeks. I’ll catch a rideshare or call a friend.”
“Or I could call?—”
I don’t even let her finish the rest of the sentence. “Don’t call Des.”
Her lips pinch.
“He will overreact, and I will lose his trust again.”
“Okay, I won’t. Then let’s head back so you can change out of that.”
“You can stop by my place,” Lola offers.
“No need. There are a few people I know still in the area that can give me a ride back. Ana, Winston, Cameron—oh, Teagan lives about five minutes from here. She owes me a favor since I helped her fix the dent in her rear bumper. She didn’t want her husband to find out she reversed into a pole.” I pull out my phone and fumble with a few of the buttons, my hands trembling. The more the others stare, the harder it is for the tremors to stop and for me to relax. “It’s my nerves. Once I calm down, the shaking will stop.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better,” Maya mumbles, glancing at the others.
Hey, T. I’m hoping I can cash that favor from yiu right now. There was a crazt accident at the Bazaar today, and I could use a ride baclk to Rocosa.
Ignorw the typos. My hands are a litttle shaky.
My fingers freeze when my phone starts to ring, the screen filling with Tristen’s face.Odd.I don’t even remember taking this picture. He’s scowling at me from behind the bar, his messy black hair stuck to the sweat of his forehead from a busy shift. Something Drunk-Reese must have taken. With a flick of my thumb, I send his call to voicemail and return to my message.
“Did you hang up on her?” Julia asks.
“No, uh, that was Tristen.”
“What? Why didn’t you answer it?” Lola peers over my shoulder.
I don’t have time to respond before his face pops up again.What in the world? Why is he calling me?
“Do you think it’s about Des?” Maya pushes closer, twisting the cross around her neck. “Answer it just in case.”
The call goes to voicemail, saving me from an awkward conversation with him.
Teagan
Reese! Where are you?
“Oh, good. She responded and asked where to pick me up.”
Sorrry. Someone was trying to call in while I was tryung to type. I’m in Larimer Square. Are you close>
“¡Ay! This is too painful to watch.” Nia plucks the phone from my grip. “I’ll do it. Tell me what to say.”
Teagan
