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“Yeah, but it also could lead to a dead end. What if she says hey and walks away?”
He shrugged. “That’s something you’re going to have to deal with. But you better decide soon because she’s headed this way.”
Panic swept over me as I turned and saw the crowd part as she made her way toward me. Words jumbled through my head, none of them making sense. She was so close and I was sweating, still trying to come up with an opening line that didn’t make me sound like an idiot. Oh God, was that body odor I smelled? Did I forget to put on deodorant?”
“Dash, it’s so good to see you!” she beamed.
I wasn’t expecting that and totally fucked it all up. “Yeah, me too. On the seeing you part. Weird, right? I mean, not because you know Edith, but what are the chances of us both being here? Tonight. At the open house.”
Her lips spread into a smile as she chuckled at my response. She was cool like that, always making me feel better when I fucked things up. “So, what have you been up to? I haven’t seen you in a week!”
“Oh, work and…I removed the couch from the door. There couldn’t be two houses in town like that.”
“Oh, that’s a shame. I decided not to do it at Andrew’s. I didn’t think he’d like it if the alarm kept going off when the door wouldn’t shut.”
“True,” I nodded. “Oh, and I got a new bed with all these awesome features. Pretty slick, if I do say so myself.”
“I bet the ladies love it,” she grinned, though it seemed a little strained. Of course, I could be imagining that.
“Ladies?” I scoffed. “This bed is only for me. In fact, I was thinking of you when I bought it. And with winter coming, I was thinking of how your feet get cold. Did you know they actually make a warming feature at the feet? It’s supposed to help with circulation and help you fall asleep better.”
“Interesting,” she grinned. “It must be nice.”
“You should try it out sometime. Be the first to break it in. I mean, besides me since I’ve already slept in it.”
“I might take you up on that,” she laughed. “Andrew’s bed is like a lump of coal. My back’s been killing me.”
My insides immediately clenched in anger. She was sleeping in that fucker’s bed? Sure, I made my peace with him, but what the hell was she sleeping in his bed for? It was just wrong on so many levels.
“Well, you’re welcome to try any time.”
She nodded, glancing around the party. “Is it just me or is it weird that they’re having a party for their marriage when they barely know each other?”
“It’s definitely weird. You know, this is not his first Vegas wedding.”
“I heard that,” she said. “The very night I found them screwing on the counter.”
“Yeah, he married this woman in some crazy attempt to help Duke out. She was obsessed with him, and he was obsessed with Rae. Somehow, it ended in Vegas.”
“What I don’t understand is why Edith went after him,” she frowned. “He’s not rich.”
I was bumped from behind as one of the ladies stumbled after having too much to drink. I turned and steadied Zoe, who was on her fourth drink. In her defense, she didn’t get to drink much since having the baby.
“Oh my gosh! Isn’t this the best party?”
“Sure,” I grinned, laughing with Laura, who tried to hide her smile.
“You know, I’m not surprised at all that Bowie ran off with Edith.”
“Why’s that?” Laura asked curiously.
“Well, she’s gorgeous and adventurous. And after his last wife…she’s definitely an upgrade.”
“Yeah, but what’s the appeal the other way around?” I asked, staring at Bowie across the room.
“Uh, hello? He’s a mechanic!” Zoe screeched. “Look at those hands!”
I didn’t. Instead, I stared down at my own hands, wondering why they weren’t as appealing as Bowie’s. “What about my hands?”