“Thank you, Jenna,” Annabella coos, victorious. “Tyler and I have a long history.”
“It’s Lainey.”
“Oh, sorry.” Annabella chuckles. “Jenna was Ty’s date before you came along, right?”
I watch as Lainey breathes in deep. She’s gathering patience. “Nice to meet you, Annabella. I’ll leave you and Tyler to talk things through.” She steps away, but her foot catches the leg of my chair and she gasps . . . throwing the entire contents of her wine glass down Annabella’s front. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” Lainey grabs a napkin and starts frantically rubbing at Annabella’s taupe silk gown.
My ex-wife gasps. “It’s red wine, you stupid cow.” She jumps up, staring in horror at her taupe/red dress. She looks livid, and while I should probably be checking my designer suit for any signs of splashes, I’m too rapt by what’s unfolding before me.
“Oops,” Lainey squeaks, pouring herself another glass, losing all interest in the mess she’s made of my ex-wife’s dress. “I’m terribly sorry for ruining your dress.”
I grin like an idiot and stand, joining the most incredible woman I’ve ever known, as she casually sips her fresh glass of red, looking at Annabella faff with the huge stain. “I don’t think that’s going to come out,” I muse, shaking my head in forged dismay.
“Me neither,” Lainey sighs. “It’s a crying shame. Such a beautiful gown.”
Annabella’s nostrils flare as she glares at Lainey. “You bitch,” she seethes.
“Here,” Lainey says, sickly sweet, taking the remainder of her cheesecake. “Have some cheese with your wine.” She thrusts the plate at Annabella’s front, forcing the cake to slide off the edge and splatter across Annabella’s midriff. “Now you can fuck off.”
I burst out laughing as my ex-wife shrieks her shock, before swinging around and marching away. “Good riddance,” Lainey declares, taking her seat.
I pull myself together and lower to my chair, looking at my date in silent awe. “You know, I really thought you were going to leave me alone with her for a moment.”
“Never.” She sits back and crosses one leg over the other, looking across the dance floor where the newlyweds are cutting the cake. “Not after what you’ve told me.”
“You didn’t karate chop her.”
She grins and slashes her arm through the air, and I lose all control of my bodily functions, folding with laughter that hurts my tummy and brings tears to my eyes. “I’ve had the best day,” I tell her, wholeheartedly meaning it.
“Me too.” She leans in and kisses me. And once again, I’m lost in the moment with her. Completely lost.
“Kids.” But Mum soon knocks me out of my euphoria, holding up a camera. “Let me get a picture.”
I stand and wrap my arm around Mum, kissing her temple. “You do know your phone has a camera built-in, don’t you, Mum?”
“Yes, yes, you’ve told me. Damned if I know how to use it.” She shrugs me off and backs away. “Come on. Let me get a picture of you both. You look so lovely.”
“Us?” I question, looking to Lainey for her reaction to this demand. “I thought you meant you and me, Mum.”
“I have hundreds of you and me. But I have none of you and Lainey.” She jiggles the camera impatiently. Damn. I have avoided photos with women for years. I’m almost terrified to look at Lainey and see a similar concern. But then she moves into my side and cuddles in. Oh? What does this mean?
“Here.” Lainey quickly breaks free and dives into her purse, passing my mum her phone. “Take one on here, too. Just press the red dot on the screen when you’re ready.”
A photo on her phone? What does that mean? “You want a picture of me?” I ask as she settles into my side again and looks up at me. “So you can gaze at it when you’re missing me?” I smirk.
“Something like that.” She reaches up, leaning into me, and kisses me bang on the lips. “You’re quite pleasing to the eye, and I miss looking at you when we’re not together.”
I beam against her lips, liking the sound of that. She misses me when we’re not together.
“Oops,” Mum says, snapping us from our moment. “I pressed the button too soon.” She looks down at the phone, and I’m pretty sure she just inhaled a small hitch of surprised breath. “Oh. Oh, Tyler, look. You look so in love.”
“Whoa.” I laugh, suddenly fidgety on Lainey’s behalf, but before I can apologize to her for my mother’s inappropriate comment, she’s gone from my arms and has joined Mum.
“Wow.” Lainey looks down at the picture. “We really do.”
Will someone please cup my balls and massage lightly, because I need to see if anything feels as good as Lainey’s statement.
“Look.” Lainey takes the phone from Mum and presents it to me, smiling.
I’m honestly amazed she’s as excited as she is. How does she keep surprising me? With her boldness, her fire, her sass . . . and now her enthusiasm about . . . us.