1
APRIL
Plié, arabesque, jeté.Andchampagne spills over the edge of my glass.
Oh well. Another sip.
I gaze at the half-eaten tier of strawberry shortcake that is calling my name over there on the table. I would have done the icing a little differently, but who am I to criticize the award-winning inn in this little town of Lake Spark, Illinois?
I’m just the friend who had her fiancé leave her, and now I’m the twenty-six-year-old woman who left her job in accounting because, well, it wasn’t for me. With that consideration, I grab hold of the near-empty bottle of champagne in my left hand and pour another glass.
Looking around me as I move, I reflect on the fact that I am alone in an empty private dining room at the Dizzy Duck Inn. A pool of pink confetti crunches between my bare toes, as my new heels were killing me, so I took them off after all the guests left. We may have gone a little overboard with the baby shower decorations, but it isn’t often that your best friend is having a baby with your uncle/godfather.
To add to the pressure, everyone wanted an invite since he is the one and only Hudson Arrows, football coach extraordinaire. But we kept it low-key and classy. My mom, my cousin Drew, and I arranged the baby shower—well, more party because it was a team dad and team mom event. I’m happy I could do this for Piper. After all, we had a bit of a falling out when I discovered she was sneaking around with my uncle, but we're all good now. Because even a fool could see they are perfect for each other.
Fifth position, assemblé, back to fifth.
It’s been years since I’ve done ballet. I let my feet gravitate into their own dance, the knee-length teal dress swaying out perfectly and making me want to watch the fabric flow. I’m not sure why in this moment dance is calling to me, but someone, literally,iscalling out to me.
“April.” That tone fills me with dread.
My body tightens as that voice satisfies my disdain quota for the year. Exactly what I needed tonight; baseball royalty rolling in. “Spencer.”
Ugh, he chuckles under his breath. It’s irritating because of how it is enticing,ifI were the kind of woman who finds arrogant baseball players attractive. And I. Am. Not.
Spencer appears in my peripheral vision as he walks right past me to grab another bottle of champagne from the bucket of nearly melted ice. Damn it, I missed that bottle. He gets to work on breaking the foil.
He’s wearing dark blue jeans, dress shoes, and a shirt that only accentuates those upper arm muscles that earn him millions. God, his cologne is a little strong today, and his new haircut of short summer length just seems a little overboard for his sandy-brown hair.
“Where’s the tutu?” he asks, which means he must have spied on me in my little dance escape.
That’s it. I feel my face forming a sneer as I slowly turn to face him. “Do you not have to go home? I mean, thank you for gracing us with your presence at the baby shower, but I feel the ground turning cold which must mean your stellar personality is freezing the earth.”
He scoffs a laugh as he perches against the table, and with his brown eyes set on me, I notice how the shade of green of his shirt complements his eyes, which is beside the point. “I love that you dislike me so much. It’s not often I share mutual feelings with a woman.”
“Gag. Don’t put me on a list with your gazillion skanks.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it. Plus, gaggers don’t get a place on my list. I’m more a swallow-and-smile kind of guy.” I would literally throw up if it wasn’t for the fact there is a hint of sarcasm in his voice, the saving grace from this horrendous conversation.
I roll my eyes. “I knew there was a reason I avoided you all day.”
“Nah, you did that because I bring out the worst in you and you wanted to be on good behavior for Piper and Hudson.”
I really want to throttle him. Good behavior my ass. I’m not Ms. Prim and Proper.
Pop. The cork goes flying, but neither one of us seems to notice.
He continues to speak. “I wanted to drink today, avoid the last of the construction on my house, and maybe have a spa day tomorrow with a hot masseuse before I head deep into baseball season, so I’m staying here tonight. Hudson texted that he thought he forgot some gift in here, some silver duck or something, so that’s why I am submitting myself to your presence again.”
My eyes bug out. “You live literally four miles from here.” He’s my uncle's and Piper’s next-door neighbor. I met him through my uncle Hudson at a BBQ, and I always saw him at other events. It was an instant dislike, mostly because Spencer possesses a smug smirk that I just want to…
He pours himself a glass. “And? Foxes on the road this time of a day can be a killer.”
I snort a laugh, because as ridiculous as it sounds, it’s true because Lake Spark is surrounded by woods.
Offering him my glass, he cocks a brow before filling my glass up too. “What’s your excuse?”
“I don’t live in Lake Spark, and I didn’t want to drive back to Chicago today. So, alcohol and a soft hotel bed it is.” I struggle to give a tight, closed-mouth smile.
