“Only if you want to talk about it, Elle.”
No way am I sharing details with Diego… “Nope. I really don’t.” A flicker of levity cuts through the nerves. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
Calanthe fake-bristles. “Friendsalwayskiss and tell. It’s the second rule of friendship.”
I tip my head. “Really? And what’s Rule Number One?”
Calanthe’s dimples pop free. “Bringing the shovel, should a shovel be needed.”
Diego chuckles.
“Speaking of shovels…” Calanthe rolls the necklace part of her body chain, making the diamonds bound in yellow gold gleam blindingly bright. “Are we going to the bachelorette party on Saturday?”
“I don’t hate Jenevathatmuch,” I say.
“Let’s be real…if she flirts with Cillian again, she’s done.”
“Plant food,” Diego adds.
Their solidarity sends a warm rush through me. I draw in a deep breath—the first full one in days—and pull my phone from my pocket, ready to answer Cillian’s question. But then I pause and tuck my phone away. Probably best to put words down once my emotions aren’t running the show.
“I think we should stop by just to keep an eye on things,” Calanthe says. “Plus I hear it’s themed, and I have some truly kickass cowgirl boots, which I haven’t worn since…since the dayI met Tarian.” Her eyes acquire such a deep luster that they glimmer even through her smoky-brown lenses.
When she sniffles, I hike up an eyebrow. “Are you seriously about to weep over boots?”
“Unlike certain emotionally constipated individuals in this car, I’m deeply in touch with my emotions.”
Calanthe’s quip causes my eyes to rollwayback.
“I could loop the block to stretch this out, but the boutique owner looks about to pounce and haul you two out of the car.” Diego gestures toward the shopkeeper, who shifts like she’s one deep breath away from sprinting toward the Porsche.
After we climb out of the car, Calanthe loops her arm through mine.
“Mrs. Hadez, what a pleasure to see you again,” the fifty-something woman gushes. “I’ve narrowed it down to twenty-three options.”
“Twenty-three?You better not try them all,” I mutter to Calanthe.
She carries her mouth near my ear. “Rule Number Three of friendship—grin and bear what makes your bestie happy.”
I sigh. “I’m going to need champagne on tap.”
To the boutique owner, Calanthe says, “We’ll also be needing dresses for a Wild West party tomorrow. Got any suede and denim?”
“Of course!” The shop owner is already streaking to the backroom of her boutique.
“I never said I’d go,” I hiss. “Or that I’d dress up.”
Calanthe pulls me to a stop inside the boutique. “I know, babe. And maybe we won’t go. But just in case you decide you need to see Cillian in chaps, I want you to have the option of showing up as the hottest cowgirl there.”
“We should probablyallgo if that’s all he’s wearing,” Diego chirps, strolling up behind us.
“Down boy. You’re married to my brother.”
Diego’s dimples make an appearance as he pushes his sunglasses to the top of his head. “I’d be going for fashion pointers, Callie would be going to keep Jen and her friends in check, and you’d be going… I suppose you don’t need to go if Callie and I go. We can document the night and send you text updates.”
“Yeah, totally.” Calanthe nods. “Diego and I will go. You should stay at home. We’ll tell you all about it.”
I narrow my stare. “You two play dirty.”
