“Should I have brought a date?” I ask as Mel walks in with her husband, hand in hand. She is dressed in a long, green dress, and her shiny brown hair is up.
Will I be the only person here tonight without a date? Not that it bothers me; I don’t need a life partner to do things with or to have as an accessory.
“What date? Didn’t you end it with Luke?” she asks.
“Yeah, but I could have found someone if needed.”
“What about that guy from the restaurant? Have you seen him again?” Delaney asks.
Mel walks over and cuts off our conversation. “It’s been so long, Cora. You remember Rick, my husband.”
“I do. It’s nice to see you both again.” Rick is a pro football player, and I sold them their current house.
“We’re actually thinking of investing in real estate, so expect a call from us soon,” Rick adds.
“I look forward to it.” I offer a kind smile back as Delaney hands me a glass of champagne. Delaney engages in some small talk before she directs them to the table. I stay where I am, waiting for her to come back.
Gripping my arm lightly, she quietly asks, “Tell me, have you seen him again?”
“Yes,” I tell her.
“Oh, he was good-looking, that one.” She fans herself.
“When is your date arriving?” I ask.
“He’ll be late. He has some work to finish up. But don’t worry, you’ll meet him. And Sebastian can’t come as he has to work late too.”
I smile as more people arrive.
We all take our seats at the table, and the first course is served. Everyone is talking, and I’m sitting back, sipping on my champagne, when Delaney starts gushing about James.
“So, he is coming for sure?” Mel asks her.
“Yep. Should be any minute now.”
Just then, a knock comes on the door, and she basically jumps out of her seat. We all watch as she rushes from the room, and a few minutes go by before she comes back with a man on her arm. He scans the room before looking back to Delaney.
She stares up at him with so much admiration in her eyes, as if she can’t get enough of him. I always wanted that for her—to be loved in whatever form she chose. She deserves it with everything she’s been through. When I glance at him, I see him staring at her, but not with the same look—just someone who seems happy to be here. I try not to judge because he could have social anxiety, and I don’t know him like I know Del.
“Everyone, this is James.” She waves a hand and then starts to go around the table, introducing everyone. When she gets to me, she walks over and squeezes my shoulder. “And this is Cora, my best friend.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Del has spoken very highly of you,” James says, dressed in black slacks with a shirt rolled up to his elbows. He appears to be older than us, but not by much.
“Lovely to meet you,” I reply.
Delaney basically jumps into his arms, and he kisses her briefly before releasing her and pulling out a chair. Then he takes the vacant seat opposite me, with Delaney between us at the head of the table.
Delaney starts talking about her upcoming weekend away with James and how the destination is a surprise. When I look down at his finger and see an indent from a ring, I cut in to her story and ask him, “Have you been married before?”
The table falls silent at my words as he fists his hand.
“Yes, I have,” he answers.
“Can I ask why it ended?”
Delaney kicks me under the table, but I want to know. James seems friendly enough from what I can tell in the short amount of time he’s been sitting here, but we don’t know much about him—except that he waited until the third date to kiss her, wants to take her on a romantic getaway, and he’s apparently smitten with her.
“She died,” he tells us.
