“This is crazy,” Juniper commented as she looked around.
“Nothing like the Baker’s, huh?” I asked.
“Nothing.”
“Come on, let’s grab a drink.”
We moved to the bar to grab some of the signature spiced cider my mother had made every year. It was spicy and sweet, so good it was hard to tell there was alcohol in it.
When the dinner started, we made our way to the table. We were at the head table with my whole family. Dinner was an amazing five courses, with a tiramisu dessert at the end. It felt as if everything was looking up.
“I need to run to the bathroom,” Juniper said, excusing herself.
“Okay, it’s that way,” I told her, pointing to the corner. “Do you need me to show you?”
“I think I’ll manage,” she said.
She kissed my temple before she left and I touched the spot absentmindedly.
“He has the look,” Rachel said.
“What look?” I asked.
“The one you always make fun of Samuel for having,” Tiffany said from across the table.
Rachel laughed. “Exactly.”
I laughed too. I couldn’t believe Tiffany said that. Though she and Arthur had been married almost ten years, I didn’t think I’d spoken more than a few sentences to her. Even Arthur was smiling.
As we chatted I spotted Veronica passing the table, and excused myself to follow her.
“Veronica,” I called to get her attention.
She turned. Her black hair was styled down and she wore a navy blue dress.
“Ellery, long time no see,” she said, giving me a hug.
I returned it. We’d been friends for so long that it was comfortable. Sure, we’d hooked up on occasion, but that was truly all it was. Neither of us had any real interest in the other past a single drunken night when we felt like it.
And that was all behind me now.
“I was hoping I’d see you.”
“Why? I thought you finally got locked down. It’s all anyone can talk about.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised.
She nodded. “It’s not every day the city’s biggest playboy gets scooped up.”
“Yeah, well when you meet her, you’ll understand. She’s amazing.”
“I’m sure she is,” she said with a smile. “Where is she, by the way? It’s half the reason I drove all the way up here.”
“She’s in the bathroom, but I wanted to talk to you first.”
“What’s up?”
“Let’s chat outside,” I said.
