“Ofcourse I remember. But…” Remorse flits across his expression,making my heart drop. “I really wish I could, but I can’t. Ipromise to find you again and explain everything.”
“Findme? Couldn’t we just exchangenumbers?”
Cole shakes hishead, already backing away. The expression of regret intensifiesuntil it looks like he’s in agony. “I’m so sorry, I really have togo. I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you, Sylvie. I promisethis’ll all make sense eventually. Oh, and…happy birthday.” With apained smile, he spins around and disappears into thecrowd.
I remain where Iam, shocked into immobility until someone bumps into me. The joltsends me moving again, eyes scanning every dark-haired man I pass.Outside the diner, I stop to collect myself. I’m about to face agroup of eight people who have taken time out of their day rightbefore Christmas to honor me. I have plenty of time later to ponderCole’s reasons for being in Bellevue and what he meant aboutfinding me.
Upon entering thediner, I’m greeted by a cheer from the far corner where my friendsare waiting. My cheeks heat with pleasure and maybe a touch ofembarrassment since everyone in the diner is now looking at me andlikely wondering why I’m worthy of such a greeting.
I’m once againfrozen to the spot, so my friends surge forward, enveloping me inhugs and well wishes. Their enthusiastic greetings make emotionswell in my chest; I’ve only been hanging out with this group forthe last month or so, but they’ve welcomed me in with open arms andmade me one of them.
After being huggedand kissed by eight people—Stella and her boyfriend Leland, Evieand her boyfriend Wesley, Hollie and her boyfriend Spencer, andLouisa and the group’s mutual friend (and Louisa’s not-so-secretcrush) Fergus—Louisa takes my hand and leads me across thediner.
“I’m soglad I talked you all into inviting Fergus,” I whisper, squeezingher hand.
Louisa’s cheekspinken adorably. “I am too.”
Stella hadoriginally suggested a girls’ lunch, but I’ve enjoyed our big groupmeetings over the last month, so I suggested everyone should comeif they could. They weren’t sure about inviting Fergus since I’veonly met him a couple of times and it would make for unevennumbers, but I insisted. I know how much Louisa likes the hot Scot,plus I’ve appreciated how kind he’s been to me and how he’s askedgenuine, insightful questions the few times we’ve hungout.
As we approach thefar side of the diner, I see two large tables have been pushedtogether and are decked out in small vases of flowers and colorfulconfetti. The seat of honor in the middle has balloons tied to it,and a Birthday Girl tiara sitting on the table in front of it.Leland pulls the chair out for me and takes my coat, and Stellaplaces the tiara on my head as soon as my butt hits thechair.
There’s acommotion as everyone else gets settled around the table. I have abrief moment to notice the empty seat across from me—and to pray myfriends aren’t trying to set me up today of all days—beforemovement catches my eye and a pair of servers bearing food-ladentrays come into view. Bea is behind them, carrying a tray ofdrinks. After she sets it down, she rushes around to my seat andenvelopes me in a tight hug.
“Happybirthday, honey,” she says, patting my cheek. “Can’t tell you howhappy I am that you chose this place for your birthday celebration.Does my old ticker good to see all my kiddies together like this.”I could swear her eyes are glistening as she kisses my cheek, winksat someone behind me, and scurries off toward thekitchen.
I turn back in myseat, preparing to make a joke to the table at large about how Beais getting sentimental in her old age. Instead, a sound somewherebetween a hysterical giggle and sob spills out of my mouth when Isee the chair across from me is now occupied.
“Surprise,” Cole says. His eyes are bright and his lips aretwisted in an almost rueful smile. His eyebrows dip in concern whentears start streaming down my face.
Beside me, Stellatakes my hand under the table. I can’t pry my eyes from Cole,afraid he’ll disappear if I look away, but I have a feeling thiswas somehow Stella’s doing. On my other side, Louisa says somethingI don’t compute and, in the next moment, she and Cole are switchingseats so he can be beside me.
“Howare you here?” I ask, grabbing a napkin and trying to staunch theflow of tears.
Hetakes my free hand, raising it to his mouth and letting it lingerthere before pressing his lips to it. “I’ll explain everythinglater, okay? Right now is about celebratingyou.”
It’snot the answer I want, but it doesn’t matter how or why Cole ishere, just that heishere. My friends start passing around the food, and we load upour plates. I expect them to have their own questions for Cole, butthey keep the conversation light.
Despiteoccasionally chiming in, I’m content to listen, observe, and laughalong with the others. Cole’s hand is still in mine, which mustmake it awkward for him to eat since he’s right handed, but heseems as eager to maintain our physical connection as Iam.
Partway throughlunch, I catch Louisa’s eye across the table. With Fergus sittingbeside her, her cheeks are that adorable shade of pink again, andI’m sure the somewhat goofy grin on her face matches the one I’vefelt on my own face since the moment Cole sat down next tome.
Fergus sayssomething and Louisa turns her attention to him. Stella leans inclose to me and whispers, “I’m calling it now. We’ll all beofficially paired off by the end of this year.”
“Youthink?” I say. “That’s only about a week away. Seems like a prettybold statement.”
She follows mygaze to where Louisa and Fergus have their heads bent close as theytalk quietly. Louisa is adamant that Fergus only thinks of her as afriend, but I’ve never had a friend look at me the way Fergus islooking at Louisa now.
Stella’s wearing asoft, secret smile when our eyes meet again. The smile grows as hergaze flicks over my shoulder. I follow the direction of her eyes tothe gorgeous man beside me, who’s watching me with a fondness thatnearly takes my breath away.
On Cole’s otherside, Wesley says something to him and he nods, his eyes remainingon mine for another moment before he turns his attention to Wes. Iwatch them, sensing Stella still hovering near myshoulder.
“Youthink it’s a bold statement, but I think it’s pretty bold for himto show up in Bellevue and agree to surprise you by having lunchwith a big group of strangers,” she says. “Just saying.”
She’s notwrong.
After the emptyplatters and lunch plates are cleared, a clapping sound comes fromthe direction of the kitchen a second before one of the waitressessteps into view holding a giant cake. Bea is beside her holding acupcake with a candle in it. Cole catches my eye and grins wheneveryone starts singing the birthday song. I wonder if he’sthinking about the conversation from our first night together whenI told him I hated having everyone sing to me.
I don’t hate this,though, and I can’t help but laugh as I look around again at myclapping, singing friends. I catch sight of Bea’s husband Horatiostanding to the side, recording the scene on what looks likeStella’s phone. I have a feeling this whole afternoon will turninto one big, happy blur later, so I’ll be glad to have thepictures and videos everyone has been taking over the lasthour.
