Drea looked between the two of us and smiled. “Great! We’ll see you both on Saturday. Oh, by the way, it’s a pool party. Bye!”
“What?!” I shouted but she had already rounded the corner. Blair told me about the party weeks ago, but she failed to mention it was a pool party. That was the last thing I needed. Vera in a… whatever she went swimming in.
“So, we’re going to a party?” Vera lifted one eyebrow like I should’ve told her sooner. To be honest, I had completely forgotten about it until Drea said something. Well, that’s not true. It’s been in my calendar for weeks, but it slipped my mind that Vera would have to go with me.
I groaned. “A pool party, apparently. At Drea’s house. Have you ever been? If not, I can drive.”
She shook her head. “No, I’ve never been, but I’m looking forward to it.”
“It’ll be something, that’s for sure.”
Chapter Sixteen
VERA
“Okay, Nyx. Are you ready for our walk now?”
I had just come in from working on the car and had come out from getting cleaned up before I asked him if he was ready. He was always ready and I knew better than to ask that question whenIwasn’t ready.
He started barking enthusiastically. I smiled and got his leash ready and I threw my shoes on before we were out the door.
The weather was absolutely perfect. I was wearing a black tank top with a pair of matching basketball shorts. We didn’t need to talk about my socks-with-sandals situation. It was just a quick walk and I highly doubted I’d see Cara out.
I decided to take him to a local dog park I’d been hearing everyone at the bookstore talk about. Drea and Blair took their dog there all the time, as did Kaia and Daisy. I absolutely loved that their dog was named Duke. I immediately got the Duke’s of Hazzard reference and thought it was so cool. Cara sort of reminded me of the Daisy from the movie, only Cara was smarter and a thousand times sexier.
I pulled out my phone to text her while we walked to the park:
Me: Good Afternoon, beautiful. I’m walking Nyx and was just thinking about Duke’s of Hazzard and thought of you.
Cara: Hello. How exactly did that movie make you think of me? I’m not sure if I should be insulted or not. And why are you thinking of that movie? Did you recently watch it or something?
Me: No. We’re going to the dog park everyone goes to and I was thinking about when I first met Daisy and her dog, Duke.
Cara: Duke is so cute! So… back to this movie and its similarities to me. Should I be insulted?
Me: Absolutely not! I was just thinking about how much smarter you are than the main character from that movie. And how much hotter you are
Cara: You flatter me. Thank you, though. Thinking I’m hotter than Jessica Simpson is a compliment. Thinking I’m smarter than Jessica or Daisy Duke… undecided.
“Hey, Vera!” I looked up from my phone to see Kaia and Daisy walking toward me, waving with a little cutie at their feet.
I waved back. We had just gotten to the park, and it looked like they were heading out. They both looked adorable in similar leggings and an oversized t-shirt.
“How are you guys?” I spoke and signed at the same time. One of my cousins was deaf and I’d picked it up so I would be able to communicate with her.
“We’re good. Just leaving. It’s so good to see you. Where’s Cara?” Kaia said while also signing at the same time. She always did that when Daisy was around and I thought it was so thoughtful.
I didn’t know where Cara was, but they didn’t need to know that. If Cara and I were together, they'd think I should know where she is. I wish I knew so I could be there with her.
“It’s just me, I’m afraid. I’ve got a dinner date with my Abuela soon, so I was just taking Nyx out for a walk beforehand.”
We chatted for a few more minutes until we said our goodbyes and they turned around, hand in hand with Duke right next to Daisy. They really were so adorable together.
Nyx and I spent almost an hour at the park. He played with other dogs and ran around like a wild animal. After the third time of getting hit on, I figured it was time to call it a night and head back home to get ready for dinner. The women were cute enough, and they were sweet, but I wasn’t interested. I was with Cara and I didn’t want anyone else.
Okay, so obviously I knew I wasn’treallywith her, but I was trying to be. I knew I was wearing her down, too. That little kiss after the pickleball game with Drea and Blair was not for the act. It wasn’t necessary, but it sent my whole body on fire. I was so desperate to turn my head, just a sliver of an inch, to connect our mouths together, but that was against the rules.
The entire car ride home, I just stared at her, wanting to say so many things, wanting to grab her hand and feel her skin against mine, wanting to kiss her. I’d wait until after the wedding. When we weren’t pretending anymore.
