"Disaster." I leaned my head back against the seat. "Any chance I can still crash girls' night? I could use some wine and friendly faces."
"Of course! We're at Mer's place. Come over whenever."
Relief flooded through me. "You're a lifesaver. Be there in twenty."
"Want to talk about it?"
"I'll tell you when I see you."
There was no way I wanted to share this fiasco without a drink in my hand. No way in hell.
The drive to Meredith's sprawling estate helped settle my nerves. By the time I pulled up to the gate and the guard let me pass, I'd almost convinced myself the whole thing with Eric was no big deal. Just an awkward run-in with an ex. Nothing worth dwelling on.
Except I couldn't stop dwelling on it.
The way he'd moved when Jordan grabbed me. The coldness in his voice when he'd told Jordan to let go. The heat in his eyes when he'd looked at me afterward.
The way he still looked as devilishly handsome as he had all those years ago, and how my body still reacted to him.
Stop it.
I parked and headed inside, following the sound of laughter to the sitting room. The scene that greeted me was the kind of cozy luxury only the Donati-Savoca circle could pull off. Soft lighting, plush furniture, and three gorgeous women sprawled across couches with glasses in hand.
Marcello was being minded back at Sofia's place by her trusted babysitter, giving her a night of freedom.
A team of nail technicians had set up shop, working on Meredith and Sofia's hands while Elena waited her turn.
"Ivy!" Elena waved me over. "Perfect timing. They just finished Sof's nails."
Sofia wiggled her freshly painted fingers, the deep burgundy catching the light. "We've got your color picked out already. Trust me, it's perfect."
One of the technicians gestured to an empty seat. "We can start whenever you're ready."
I sank into the chair with a grateful sigh. "You guys are the best."
Meredith lifted her glass of sparkling juice in a mock toast. "To emergency girls' nights and terrible dates."
"I'll drink to that." Elena handed me a generous pour of wine.
I took a long sip, savoring the crisp white. "God, I needed this."
"So." Sofia leaned forward, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Tell us everything. How bad was he?"
"He didn't show." I shrugged, trying to play it casual. "Turns out I either attract losers or flakes."
"What an ass." Meredith shook her head. "His loss."
"Yeah, well." I held out my hands for the technician. "My luck being what it is, the night got even better."
Elena raised an eyebrow. "Better how?"
"Please say a hunking hot man gave you his number," Meredith said hopefully.
"I'm not that lucky, god." I snorted. "Quite the opposite, in fact. I ran into not one but two exes at the bar."
Sofia's jaw dropped. "Two? In one night? After a date stood you up?"
"Damn, the universe hates you tonight, sorry," Elena said with a visible cringe.
