Page 93 of Decidedly Off Limits

“Okay, I’ll be right down. I have to go to the bathroom.” She patted her protruding stomach.

Erin joined me downstairs several minutes later, stepping off the final stair as the doorbell rang. Since she was closer to the front door than I was, she went to open it while I slipped on my stilettos.

“Remember, kids,” she said as Owen entered the house, “no coming home late.” The corners of her mouth then curled up into a smile. Mischief sparked in her eyes. But whatever it was that she suddenly found amusing was something she didn’t care to share with me, and for some reason I was too scared to ask.

“You look great,” Owen said, ignoring her and smiling like he had the night we got engaged, “but your outfit’s missing something.”

I glanced down, trying to figure out what was missing. As far as I could tell, I had everything I needed. I glanced at Erin to see if she knew. She looked as perplexed as I felt.

Owen removed a small box from his pocket and opened it. My engagement ring. I’d recognize it anywhere. It was large and fussy and had never really suited me. “You still have it?”

“I wasn’t sure what to do with it,” he said, reaching for my left hand.

Before he could touch me, I pulled my hand away and placed it behind my back. “No, first you’re going to repeat after me, I, Owen Girard, do solemnly swear…” I nodded for him to repeat it.

He looked at me like I had just inhaled weed…something I might add that I’d never done. Ever.

“I’m not going through with this unless you repeat what I say,” I said.

He peered over at Erin, cringed, then repeated my words. I glanced at my best friend but she was smiling innocently.

“…tonight is not a date,” I continued, “and Kelsey and I are not really engaged.”

He chuckled and repeated the vow.

“I now pronounce you and I not engaged, and that we will never be married to each other for as long as we shall live.” Somehow I managed not to laugh at his amused expression.

The same couldn’t be said about Erin. “Maybe I should toss some rice at you two to make it official.”

Owen laughed. “Okay, you two have had your fun. Can we go now?”

“All right.” I let him slide the ring on my finger.

Erin hugged me. “Have fun tonight.” A secretive smile crept on her face as she stepped away. “You look gorgeous.”

While Owen drove us to the event, we caught up some more on the past eight months since I’d ended things with him. I did my best not to think about Trent and what he was doing tonight. That wouldn’t be fair to Owen.

But tell that to my heart.

37

Trent

As I turnedoff the ignition, my cell phone rang. I checked who was calling. It was Erin, not Kelsey. Disappointment clenched my heart in its iron fist.

But what did I expect after how I had reacted the last time I saw Kels? What we’d had between us had been about more than just the sex. We had been friends—and I missed that.

I missed her.

I accepted the call. “What’s up?”

“So how’s Jillian doing?” she cheerfully asked. Maybe a little too cheerfully.

Was I worried?

A tad bit.

“She’s good. Why?”