“Wow, that’s crazy.” Though that didn’t come out right. She bit her lip. “I mean, I just didn’t know you two, you know, were ever involved.”
“Oh, we weren’t. You know he drove me crazy in high school. But I guess that’s when you know you’re meant to be. When someone drives you that crazy, it’s gotta be love, right?” She gazed at Ricky, a dreamy haze in her blue eyes.
“That’s great. So great. I’m just so happy for you.”
“Thank you. That really means a lot.” Kelsey took Isabella’s hand and squeezed it before letting it go. “And how about you? I heard you’re some big reporter in New York and work in a fancy office.”
Isabella tucked her chin to her chest, glancing at her ankle boots. She typically didn’t like to brag. But she had worked extremely hard to get to where she was. “Well, not a reporter. I’m actually a journalist.”
“Oh,” Kelsey nodded. “So do you know Hoda Kotb?”
She blinked at her. “Um, no. I write forThe New Yorker.” Typically when Isabella gave out this information, she received a wow in response. But Kelsey just stared at her blankly. “You know, so there’s lots of meetings and traveling and deadlines.”
“Whoa. Sounds intense. I could never do all that…all that pressure.” She rubbed her belly.
“Well, I mean, you have other intense things going on. Like, getting ready to push that watermelon out of your hoo-hah.” She smiled, but her cheeks burned. She seriously wasn’t getting this right.
“Gee, I guess that’s one way to put it.” She hunched her shoulders. “Anyway, I should get home. I just came to pick up dinner for Ricky’s parents. It was good catching up with you.”
Isabella’s chest tightened. At one point, Kelsey had been her best friend. All of those nights when the two would whisper secrets into the dark and talk about their dreams. But when Isabella left for Ithaca, Kelsey had stayed in Pineridge and helped her mom in the bakery. They’d lost touch a few years later. “Hey, Kelsey? Why don’t you stay?”
“Oh no, that’s okay.” She dipped her chin, her round cheeks blushing.
“It’s Norah’s bachelorette party. You should stay. It’ll be fun.” Isabella touched her arm.
“I’m afraidIwon’t be much fun.” She gestured to her stomach. “You guys have a good time, though.” She waved. “And I’ll see you at the wedding.”
“Oh, right. The wedding. Sounds good.” Isabella waved, her chest heaving as she watched her old friend weave out of the bar.
Norah strolled up alongside her. “Well, that was awkward.” She handed Isabella a shot glass.
“Yeah,” she agreed. “I feel terrible. I’ve missed so much. I didn’t even know about her and Ricky. Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
Norah shrugged. “I thought Mom did. Kelsey said they invited you to the wedding.”
“What? I don’t remember that.” Isabella clutched her chest.
“I think Mom said you were in Russia then? I don’t really remember.” Norah was distracted, scoping the crowded bar, bright Christmas lights strung along the ceiling. “Look, empty table.”
“Sweet,” Taylor said, sitting in an open chair and smoothing down a black designer A-line skirt. “Let’s take these shots already.”
Isabella tried to shake off the feelings of running into Kelsey. She came here tonight to relax. To get out of her head. To celebrate Norah. And not think about Leo and her past. She supposed it was impossible to escape the past when she’d literally walked right into it.
“Alright, ladies,” she said. “Bottoms up.”
They each slung back their shots of tequila. The malt liquid burned her throat and warmed her stomach, assuring her comfort in due time. Yes, this was exactly what she needed.
Nina slammed her glass to the table. “Let’s do another!”
Isabella was just about to agree with Nina, after she finished sucking the juice from a lime wedge but was interrupted when Landon passed by their table. She turned, clenching her jaw.
He waved. “Hello, ladies.”
What was Landon doing here? And if he was here—she glanced over her shoulder, sighing when she spotted his brother shrugging out of his jacket near the door.
So much for not thinking about Leo.
Chapter Seventeen
