Page 86 of The One You Want

“Remember that time we snuck out and went to that pool party at some girl’s house and you got wasted doing keg stands?” Marc asked Gray.

Gray dove into the fondue, too, but before he took a bite he eyed Marc. “You mean every time I took you with me to a party and you ended up wasted and I was always your designated driver?”

Marc smirked. “I do remember that. Kinda. It’s all a bit fuzzy.”

“Do you even remember summers as a teen?” Gray teased.

“Not really,” Marc admitted.

The guys clinked glasses across the table and she and Maggie exchanged relieved smiles that all was as it should be and everyone was getting along again.

Rochelle arrived again. They ordered dinner and got another round of drinks. The conversation flowed and everyone silentlyagreed to talk about things that happened in their past. She and Maggie dominated most of the conversation because they had a lot of shared memories.

By the end of dinner, all of them were back to being just two couples out for an evening together, making new memories.

Rochelle asked, “Who wants dessert?”

“I’m stuffed.” Rose sat back in her chair completely satisfied after her delicious steak and lobster tail all drenched in garlic butter.

Maggie snatched up the menu. “I probably won’t fit in my wedding dress after this decadent meal, but I am so not passing up dessert.”

“Whatever you want, babe. I’ll help you burn off those calories later.”

Maggie gave him a seductive smile. “I look forward to it.” Maggie turned to Rochelle. “I’ll have the cheesecake.”

Marc nodded. “Make that two.”

Gray handed Rochelle his credit card. “Put it all on this.” He turned to Maggie and Marc. “You two enjoy dessert. I’m taking Rose for a walk on the beach.”

“It’s cold out,” Maggie warned.

“I’ll keep her warm,” Gray assured her.

Gray stood and helped Rose out of her seat.

Rose smiled at the couple, sitting close, smiling up at her. “Have a nice night.”

“Oh, you know we will,” Marc assured her.

From the looks on Maggie’s and Gray’s faces, she guessed they caught the double meaning in Marc’s words. Maybe hedidn’t mean anything by it, but he sure didn’t choose his words carefully.

“Good night,” she said, walking past Gray toward the entrance. She walked right out the door without realizing Gray wasn’t right behind her and stopped.

He came out the door a minute later. “I had to sign the check.”

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to get out of there.”

“He didn’t mean anything by it.” Gray didn’t sound convinced. That was just his go-to excuse for Marc.

“Let’s just go.”

He took her hand before she walked away. “Hold up. No. We aren’t ending the night like this. The moon is out. Granted it’s not strawberry-colored, but I bet you look beautiful in its glow. And I really want to walk with you on the beach.”

She sighed and sucked in a breath, resetting her attitude. “Thank you for dinner. It was delicious.”

“The company could have been better mannered, but I got to sit next to you and touch you and I learned a lot of things about you through Maggie’s stories. You two really have been best friends forever.”

“Kindergarten until now. I don’t ever want to lose her.”