“Jen didn’t invite him,” Cara assures me. “They all think it’s really messed up that he sent you a wedding invitation. She purposely didn’t invite him because she wanted you to have a fun night out and then, well, just before you arrived Aiden dropped it into conversation. He didn’t realize it would be such a big deal.”She gives me a small smile. “If it makes you feel any better, Jen laid into him big-time. You do not want to mess with a pregnant woman.”
I run a hand through my hair. “Argh, I wasn’t prepared for this. I don’t know how to act around him.”
“You’ve been around him before and you’ve always played it so well.” She rolls her eyes. “If I was forced to hang around my exes, I’d be livid and probably end up throwing a drink or something, but you’ve always been so calm and civil. I’d go so far as to say you’ve beenniceto the knobhead.”
“Yeah, but those times he wasn’t engaged to someone else. He hadn’t sent me a wedding invitation. I’m not sure I’m ready to handle this.”
“Sophie, you are one hundred percent ready to handle Daniel and his stupid marriage,” Cara says firmly, grabbing my hands. “Look at you! You’re a gorgeous, fiery redhead with a high-flying career and pregnant friends who will fight to the death for you—literally. I was genuinely worried that Jen was going to smash Aiden’s face into the table.”
Cara looks me dead in the eye, then continues, in a gentler tone, “If you want to go, we can go. But, personally, I don’t think you should miss out on an evening with friends simply because an ex-boyfriend is taking a step forward in his life. He’s out of yours anyway. You’re on different paths now. Who cares what happens on his? Let’s only focus on yours.”
I let her words sink in, then look at her suspiciously. “That was really wise.”
“Yeah. It was.”
“Did you write that down earlier?”
“I actually messaged your mum as soon as Aiden said Daniel was coming. She told me what to say. I memorized it.”
I laugh, shaking my head at her.
“Come on,” she says, “let’s get back out there. The first quizround is geography and Mike, albeit a clever man, has no concept of where anything is in the world. The other day he got Munich and Milan mixed up. I should be there before he says anything stupid and gets us kicked off the team.”
I nod and, together, we walk out of the ladies’, Cara leading the way with one hand holding mine. Butterflies are going crazy in my stomach and my fingers are tingling with the nerves.
Daniel is there, sitting at the table. He looks good. He’s wearing a light blue shirt and beige chinos, an outfit that actually matches unlike many of his questionable choices when we were together. His hair is much shorter and he’s lost some weight but has also apparently toned up. He looks really healthy and happy.
DAMN IT.
He sees me and immediately looks astounded, his eyes widening in surprise. I start panicking about how bad I must look to cause such a reaction, then remember my hair.
“Hi!” he says, standing up awkwardly to greet Cara and me with a wave.
Others at the table are sitting tensely. Jen throws a dirty look at Aiden, who shrinks back into his chair.
Cara smiles indifferently at him, taking her seat. “Oh, hi, Daniel. Hey, Mike, can you pass me the wine? When does the quiz start?”
“Hi, Daniel,” I say confidently, swallowing the lump in my throat and going over to kiss him on each cheek, as though I’m greeting an old friend, which I suppose, technically, he is. “How are you?”
He’s wearing the same cologne he always used to. Gucci. The smell of him hits me much harder than seeing him. Funny how a scent can bring back a hundred memories.
“Hey, Sophie, I’m good.”
The elephant in the room is stomping around so heavily, I have to comment on it.
“Congratulations on your engagement,” I blurt out.
“Thanks! It’s all very exciting.”
“Yeah. So exciting. Wonderful news.” I’m making sure I say all the right things. “And you have a puppy!”
“That’s right. Simba. He’s a dachshund. Want to see a picture?”
“Yes!”
“Here.”
He gets his phone out of his pocket. His screensaver is a picture of him and Francesca, obviously taken just after he proposed. They’re beaming at the camera, her eyes slightly red from crying, and she’s holding up her left hand, the emerald sparkling in the sunshine.
