“Who knows.”
“You mean… he didn’t tell you he was doing that?”
“Nope.”
“Okay…”
Dylan smirked.
“Does he do that kind of thing often?”
He shrugged. “Sometimes.”
I sipped my drink. “Do you think he’s coming back?”
Dylan seemed to consider that. “Knowing him? Hard to say.”
“Wow.”
He chuckled. “Uncomfortable?”
“I’m not sure. Do you think this is a test?”
“I doubt it. Not his style.”
I cleared my throat. “So… I just met your girlfriend,” I offered. “Amber? She’s really cool. She liked the necklace I made, we talked about photography. I think we hit it off.”
“That’s great,” he said. He studied me in silence, and I studied him.
And I really didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know whathewas thinking.
Ashley had described his best friend aslaid-backandeasygoing. But right now, under his green-gold gaze, I felt something calculating emanating from him that I wasn’t sure how to take.
“Are you wondering at what point I’m gonna freak out,” I asked him, carefully, “and yell at you for breaking his heart, and tell you that you can’t be friends with him anymore?”
“Wasn’t thinking that,” he said, softly. “Was thinking I can see why he likes you so much.”
Oh.
“Well… that’s interesting.” I smiled, tentatively. “I was thinking the same about you.”
* * *
The wedding ceremony was about to get started. Jesse, who was the MC, had just come around with Jude, advising us all to finish our drinks and start heading to our seats, when I found Ashley.
He slipped his arms around my waist, drawing me aside.
“You survived,” he said.
“Survived what?” I poked him in the chest. “Being tossed to the wolves?”
“Hey, it was just one wolf.” He smiled a little. “Thought you two might want a moment to bond. You know, sniff each other out or something.”
“Very thoughtful.”
“So, how’d it go?”
“None of your business.”
