“Don’t want a lot of girls at your party?”
“Nah, just one.”
My heart rate kicks up, but before I can ask him who he means, a woman’s voice cuts in from my right. “Hey, birthday boy.”
And likethat, Wes changes.
His face closes off, eyes dimming and mouth pressing flat, and I’m taken aback by the stark contrast to his usual pep. Even his body language shifts, and he crosses his arms over his chest, breaking our limited contact. I immediately catch a chill now that I’m not up against his warmth and hug myself with a shiver.
Wes frowns as he regards the girl in front of us. She’s taller than me, but curvier, with long, black hair and beautiful bronze skin. Flawless, I would say, except for the expectant smile she’sgiving Wes. There’s something uneven about the set of her mouth. Tense.
Wes clears his throat. “Dani. I didn’t realize you were coming.”
“Paul let me in. I wasn’t on the list.” She keeps smiling as she says it, but it’s clear by her tone that this was a huge annoyance.
“I didn’t make the list,” Wes says slowly. “It was a surprise party.”
Her eyebrow quirks. “So, had you written the list, I would have been on it?”
Wes doesn’t respond. Dani’s smile doesn’t falter as she turns her eyes on me. They flicker over my outfit, sizing me up, and I fight the urge to hunch in on myself. “Well, aren’t you adorable,” she says.
“Be nice,” Wes warns.
“I said she’s adorable, Wes. What’s mean about that? I swear, you’re so sensitive sometimes.” She extends her hand to me. “I’m Dani. And you are?”
“Ivy,” I tell her, seeing no choice other than to shake her hand.
“Pretty name,” she says, and then turns her full attention back on Wes. Her shoulders square toward him, boxing me out, dismissing me entirely. “So, what’s this I hear about Audrey getting her Masters?”
Wes shifts on his feet, clearly uncomfortable. “Who told you that?”
“Your mom posted it. You know we still follow each other, right?”
“How would I know that?”
Dani shrugs. “I was just surprised. I distinctly remember her saying on four separate occasions that it was too much work. Guess my suggestions rubbed off on her, after all.”
“I think she was just venting.”
“Maybe. Or maybe not. Some people value my opinion.”
Wes shakes his head. “Dani, let’s not do this.”
“Do what?” Wes’s eyes flicker to me, forcing Dani to spare me a glance. “Sorry, Ivy, I hope we’re not boring you. Just a lot of history. I haven’t seen this one in, what’s it been, Wes? A month? That’s a record for us. Lots of catching up to do.”
I just nod, uncomfortable.
I can feel Wes’s gaze trained on my face, but I can’t look at him. I can’t make myself meet his eyes.
The back door slams open, drawing our attention, and Rich bounds out onto the deck. “Hey, party people!” he calls, waving his beer in the air. “Where’s Doc?” His eyes scan the group until he finds Wes, and he stumbles over with loose limbs and a relaxed grin.
Dani wrinkles her nose and asks, “Who let Rich in?”
“Paul,” says Wes, with a pointed look. She rolls her eyes.
Rich raises his cup in the air. “Doc and Dani back together again! Thrilled to see it!”
“You reek, Rich,” Dani says, scrunching her nose. “How many beers have you had?”
