Derek poured me a glass of wine, and I took it with a little nod of thanks. Patrick broke his nonstop gazing at my best friend to greet me.
“So it seems you had a fun day?” I said, teasing.
Elaine flushed. “You could say that.”
I tried for a neutral subject, something we could all discuss, and since Patrick had told us so much about their work last night, it seemed a safe option. “You never told me where you two are based, where your office is located,” I said.
Patrick smiled, sipping his wine. “Princeton.”
“New Jersey?” I asked, slightly stunned. Princeton was an easy two-hour drive from my office in Baltimore, as I knew well. The accompanying thoughts his words conjured made my stomach burn.
“Derek teaches a few classes at the university.”
“You do?” Elaine asked.
“We’re hardly there,” Derek added quickly, and for a moment, he almost seemed annoyed at Patrick’s answer.
“I had a client at Princeton once,” I said, not sure how those words managed to creep out. Elaine’s eyes cut to mine.
“Really?” Patrick said. “Who was it?”
“Sloan Reynolds.” Saying his name left a foul taste in my mouth, and I wished I’d never brought it up. I wanted off this train of thought. “I did some work for his family, actually.”
The conversation momentarily stalled as Patrick seemed to think. “Don’t know him,” he finally said. “Sorry.”
“It was several years ago.” I finished that topic, taking a sip of my wine to cleanse my palate.
Patrick looked down then held his wine glass aloft, turning back to Elaine. “To unexpected surprises.”
My friend beamed at that. “Isn’t it the truth?”
They clinked glasses and Patrick covered Elaine’s hand with his again, smiling.
I looked back at Derek, giving him a tight smile. “It’s so bright in here.”
His eyes were warm now, focused on me. “The fire pit is a much nicer setting, I think.”
“And you’re in Wilmington,” Patrick said to Elaine.
“Yep,” my friend replied. “Been there all my life. It’s where Melissa and I met.”
Derek glanced at me. “But you’re not there now.”
“No,” I said softly, wondering when I’d been so unguarded to tell him that. My home location was definitely a one-week stand rules violation.
“She’s hours away in Baltimore,” Elaine complained.
“It’s only six hours. Don’t exaggerate.” Now I wished I’d thought up a different topic of conversation. I wanted this exploration into my personal life to end. “So tell me about your day. What all did you do?”
That did it. Instantly she was off describing their hike up Camelback Mountain. They’d found a secret cleft in the rocks, she continued, and from the way my friend grinned at that detail, it seemed they’d done more than hike while there. Patrick smiled and squeezed her hand, a little spark in his eye. Our waiter took our orders, and I selected the steak I’d been craving earlier. Derek followed suit.
“At least your food orders are better than your drinks,” he teased.
I smiled. “I never stopped choosing my own food.”
“Shall I pick a wine to go with it?”
“Please do,” I said, wishing I could reach out and touch his hand the way our dinner companions kept doing. His eyes flickered to mine, and it seemed he might be thinking the same thing.