Shay shook her head. “If I invited them and their families, there wouldn’t be room for the people interested in actually buying the Brewster. And black tie events aren’t really their thing.”
“They’re not my thing either, but Gabe insisted on taking me to get a new suit,” RB said.
“Anewsuit?” Woody laughed. “You mean yourfirstsuit.”
“Whatever.” RB got up and stuck a bagel in the toaster. “I’m not on sale. I don’t see why I can’t just wear my sweats.”
Shay shook her head and took RB’s seat. “Because you’rerepresenting our business, so you have tolookthe business.”
“What’re you wearing, pretty boy?” Woody asked.
Shay rapped Woody’s knuckles with her spoon. “A very elegant evening dress and four-inch heels. Why? You want to try it on for size?”
Woody laughed and rubbed her hand. “Obviously, I’d love to. I look like a bad drag queen in a dress, although I do have amazing calves.”
“But you walk like a farmer with a sack of potatoes on his back, and you’d break your neck in heels.” RB chuckled. “Though I’d pay to see you try.”
A heavy thundering of feet downstairs announced Gabe’s imminent arrival.
“That was fast, even for you,” Shay said. “Are you sure you’ve buttoned up your shirt straight?”
Gabe tugged on the hem of her plaid shirt and inspected herself. “Looks like it.”
“Lookslike you’re dressing to impress. I don’t think Max cares if you wear Ralph Lauren as long as you bring him treats.”
“No, but Lori’s got a soft spot for this style.”
Shay smiled. She wasn’t used to seeing this vulnerable, slightly desperate side of Gabe and wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. She’d just have to be around enough to support Gabe when she needed it. But she couldn’t help thinking that it was another indication that love wasn’t for her. And maybe it wasn’t for Gabe either, at least, not with Lori. “Good luck. Text me when you’re on your way back; we’ll get something to eat.”
“Sounds good. See you later, guys,” Gabe said and left to a chorus of goodbyes from RB and Woody.
“If they don’t fix things, do you think it’d still be okay to stay in touch with Hank?” RB dropped into a chair and took a huge bite of the cream cheese bagel she’d prepared.
Shay frowned. “Why would you want to do that?”
“He was interested in what I had to say about his veterans’project, so I told him that I’d write down some ideas and send them to him.”
Woody snatched the other half of RB’s bagel and licked the top of it before RB could reclaim it. “That’d be okay as long as that was the end of it. If Lori cuts Gabe out of her life completely, I’m pretty sure she won’t want you talking about Lori’s dad all the time.”
“Do you think she’ll do that?” RB asked.
Woody shrugged. “She was damn angry last night. Gabe’s been spending a lot of time with her, and she had plenty of opportunities to come clean about Cynthia Nelson. Lori might not be able to forgive that kind of betrayal after what she’s been through.”
“It’s not a betrayal.” Shay dropped her spoon into her bowl and pushed it away, the sudden acidic burn in her stomach destroying her appetite. “We all know why Gabe fucked Cynthia, and it was nothing like someone cheating on their wife for fun.”
Woody held up her hands. “Hey, I’m sorry, Shay. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Shay released her death-grip on the kitchen table and got up to empty her breakfast into the trash. She sighed and leaned against the countertop. “And she’s paid a heavy price for it already.”
Woody nodded. “That wasn’t your fault, Shay. Gabe doesn’t blame you, you know that.”
Shay studied her feet and directed her focus on the need for a pedicure. The polish had chipped off on her big toe when she’d caught it on Rosie’s bed in her haste to get Rosie naked. Thinking about that was preferable to revisiting her guilt over what Nelson had done to Gabe.
“Shay…”
She looked up finally and tried to smile.
“Nelson had to go, and Gabe made it happen,” RB said. “She’d do that and more for you, for any of us, in a heartbeat.”
