Dex enters with the first box trailed by two valets carrying the others. “Thank you.”
She hangs up and turns to the guys. “Make sure he tips well for doing his job for him.”
Her teasing earns her a hug—Dex swoops in and grabs her. “Speaking of tips—”
“Not now,” she says, laughing. She blushes and I turn away, the intimacy between them incredibly sweet.
Pushing the valets out, I tell them, “He’ll be out shortly. Thank you for the help.”
Rochelle catches me in the living room. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Her arm slips around mine and we walk to the guest room together. “How are you?”
“I’m fine. No need to worry.” I set my purse down on the floor in the corner, and reassure her again. “Really. I’m fine.”
“Okay.” She doesn’t push. “I’m glad you’re here. Want to help get this party started?”
“I do indeed.”
The first few guests arrive right after me. Rochelle is setting out the platters of food and I’m snacking on mini carrots she left in a bowl on the counter. I watch her and consider how much she’s changed over the last few years. She’s become herself again, but different in a way. She’s a better version of the woman and friend she’s always been. I envy her determination to be happy after the tragedy of losing herself along with her first love.
Breaking up with Mark hasn’t been a tragedy by any means, but his turn is worrisome. Shaking it off, I decide to forget him for the night and have fun. It’s the only thing that will help me forget the fear I felt earlier. “Did you make all of this?”
She smiles proudly with a tray of brownies in her hand. “I did. I started early this morning.”
“Why not use a caterer? That would have been a lot easier.”
After setting the tray down, she says, “I once had it all and it was taken away. I’m not afraid of hard work, so I don’t need easy. If I did, I wouldn’t be starting a relationship with Dex.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“No, no. It’s okay. It’s just being here—throwing this party—feels like a statement of sorts and I just want to show everyone that I care.”
“You don’t have to throw a party to do that. Everyone loves you and cares about you. You have the biggest heart of anyone I know.” I look around at the table and at the bar being set up outside, and look back to Rochelle. “You are amazing in many ways. Make sure to enjoy the party.”
“I will. And thanks.”
“Can I do anything to help?”
Rochelle smiles. “Just have a good time.”
“How about I get us a couple cocktails. Champagne?”
“I just opened one. Do you mind taking it to the bartender? It’s a sparkling rosé , my fave.”
She goes back to organizing the buffet and I head to the bar. The bartender leans forward on the marble top and asks, “What can I get you?”
“Rochelle said there’s a bottle with her name on it. Two please.”
“Coming right up,” he replies with a wink. He removes the stopper and fills the glasses before setting them on the bar between us. “Friend of the hostess?”
“Yes.”
He nods. “You gonna hang out awhile?”
“I’ll be here all night.”
He comes off as a cocky frat boy. Maybe he is. What he’s not, is my type. “That’s a coincidence. So am I.”
“Thanks for the drinks. I should let you get back to your job.”
“You’re very welcome. Come see me again.”
“I’m sure I will. You are the keeper of the liquor after all.” I return to the kitchen, handing Rochelle her glass. “Cheers.” We tap glasses and sip. Dex walks in, his eyes seeming to light up when he sees her. It’s amazing to see a man look at a woman like that. They went from hiding their love away to sharing it with the world.
It makes me realize no one has ever looked at me like that. Envy fills my belly, mixing with the wine bubbles. “I’m gonna walk around.” I slip off to the living room.
Sitting in a chair near the fireplace, I watch the
She hangs up and turns to the guys. “Make sure he tips well for doing his job for him.”
Her teasing earns her a hug—Dex swoops in and grabs her. “Speaking of tips—”
“Not now,” she says, laughing. She blushes and I turn away, the intimacy between them incredibly sweet.
Pushing the valets out, I tell them, “He’ll be out shortly. Thank you for the help.”
Rochelle catches me in the living room. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Her arm slips around mine and we walk to the guest room together. “How are you?”
“I’m fine. No need to worry.” I set my purse down on the floor in the corner, and reassure her again. “Really. I’m fine.”
“Okay.” She doesn’t push. “I’m glad you’re here. Want to help get this party started?”
“I do indeed.”
The first few guests arrive right after me. Rochelle is setting out the platters of food and I’m snacking on mini carrots she left in a bowl on the counter. I watch her and consider how much she’s changed over the last few years. She’s become herself again, but different in a way. She’s a better version of the woman and friend she’s always been. I envy her determination to be happy after the tragedy of losing herself along with her first love.
Breaking up with Mark hasn’t been a tragedy by any means, but his turn is worrisome. Shaking it off, I decide to forget him for the night and have fun. It’s the only thing that will help me forget the fear I felt earlier. “Did you make all of this?”
She smiles proudly with a tray of brownies in her hand. “I did. I started early this morning.”
“Why not use a caterer? That would have been a lot easier.”
After setting the tray down, she says, “I once had it all and it was taken away. I’m not afraid of hard work, so I don’t need easy. If I did, I wouldn’t be starting a relationship with Dex.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“No, no. It’s okay. It’s just being here—throwing this party—feels like a statement of sorts and I just want to show everyone that I care.”
“You don’t have to throw a party to do that. Everyone loves you and cares about you. You have the biggest heart of anyone I know.” I look around at the table and at the bar being set up outside, and look back to Rochelle. “You are amazing in many ways. Make sure to enjoy the party.”
“I will. And thanks.”
“Can I do anything to help?”
Rochelle smiles. “Just have a good time.”
“How about I get us a couple cocktails. Champagne?”
“I just opened one. Do you mind taking it to the bartender? It’s a sparkling rosé , my fave.”
She goes back to organizing the buffet and I head to the bar. The bartender leans forward on the marble top and asks, “What can I get you?”
“Rochelle said there’s a bottle with her name on it. Two please.”
“Coming right up,” he replies with a wink. He removes the stopper and fills the glasses before setting them on the bar between us. “Friend of the hostess?”
“Yes.”
He nods. “You gonna hang out awhile?”
“I’ll be here all night.”
He comes off as a cocky frat boy. Maybe he is. What he’s not, is my type. “That’s a coincidence. So am I.”
“Thanks for the drinks. I should let you get back to your job.”
“You’re very welcome. Come see me again.”
“I’m sure I will. You are the keeper of the liquor after all.” I return to the kitchen, handing Rochelle her glass. “Cheers.” We tap glasses and sip. Dex walks in, his eyes seeming to light up when he sees her. It’s amazing to see a man look at a woman like that. They went from hiding their love away to sharing it with the world.
It makes me realize no one has ever looked at me like that. Envy fills my belly, mixing with the wine bubbles. “I’m gonna walk around.” I slip off to the living room.
Sitting in a chair near the fireplace, I watch the
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