“Who’s ready for dessert?”Shay inquired, standing up.
“Yes,” came a chorus of replies.
“I’ll help,” Zoe offered then got up.
“Me too,” Greg seconded and followed.
“I’ll go clean the grill,” Barry said getting up.The rest of the group got up, leaving just her, Carson, and Sandy at the table.Allie wished they hadn’t done that, making it even more painfully obvious how awkward a situation this had become, but it was too late now to call everyone back.
“Allie, I’m so sorry I saidthat,” Sandy apologized, looking crestfallen.“It just came out.I can’t even blame the alcohol since I’ve barely had any.”
“Did you really think that, Allie?That I didn’t like you?”Carson asked softly.
Allie felt so embarrassed.Hot tears stung her eyes, but she refused to embarrass herself further and shed them.She turned to face Carson.“After we made love the first time, and I texted you in the morning like normal and didn’t hear from you, I did have a moment of fear you were ghosting me.You wouldn’t have been the first.”Not after sex but just ghosting her in general.
A pained look came across Carson’s face.“I meant to textyou back, but I got busy with work and forgot.I never meant for you to feel that way.”
“I knew that afterward.At the time though, I wasn’t thinking straight.I should have known you wouldn’t do that, but history crept into my mind and clouded my judgement.You’ve more than made up for it since then.”
“Well, I should hope I’ve proven I’m not that kind of guy.”
“You did.I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” he assured her, pulled her close, and kissed the top of her head.
“I’m really sorry, Allie,” Sandy said again, her face a mask of pain.
Allie knew Sandy hadn’t meant to be mean, and she couldn’t stay mad at her friend.“I know you are.Thank you.”
“Hope you like chocolate cake,” Shay announced, coming back outside with a two-tier chocolate cake.Zoe and Greg followed with plates and silverware.
Allie and Carson looked at each other and busted up laughing.“Did you have something to do with this?”she accused him.
“No.”
Allie glanced at Sandy who was looking off to the side while drinking her beer and appearing the picture of innocence.
“What?”Shay asked in confusion.“Carson said you liked chocolate, so I made a chocolate cake.”
“I do like cake.Thank you, Shay.It’s very thoughtful of you,” Allie managed to say with a straight face, hopeful she wasn’t turning red as a tomato.Try explaining that reaction to his friends.
“None for me,” Zoe said handing out plates.“I need to stay in fighting shape.”
“Have a slice, hon.I’ll help you burn it off later.”Greg gave her a wink and tapped her ass.
“On that note, dig in,” Shay declared.
Chapter 23
“What did you think of my friends?”Carson asked after the last guests had left, which were Sandy and Jack.Sandy had drunk too much, and Jack offered to drive her home.Allie hadn’t thought it was a great idea given their hate for each other, but Jack had been nothing but a gentleman as he assisted her to his car.
Sandy must not have been feeling well because she didn’t even protest when Jack wrapped an arm around her waist and guided her.
“Your friends were really nice,” Allie responded honestly.“Zoe reminds me a lot of Sandy.”
Carson laughed at that.“Yeah, I can see the similarities.”
“I’m curious about something, though.”Allie hoped it wasn’t stepping out of his imaginary boundaries to ask, but she wanted to know.
