Piper grimaced. Calista meant well. “I told her your news. We need to work on her sensitivity skillset.”
“She was so outside herself excited, said this would make me feel better. I couldn’t say no. There were even the words, ‘They can’t take hockey away from us.’ I’ll go. But I’ll need an advance cocktail.”
“I can help with that.” They headed through the door for the last time. Such a weird feeling. So many emotions had played out here.
They went down the elevator and out into the hot autumn sun. Piper adjusted the box to one arm so she could pull down her sunglasses. Birds chirped; puffy clouds drifted by. The perfect sunny day, a contrast to the chilly, unnerving experience of yesterday. Should she offer ice cream? A pithy life quote? Vodka?
Dahlia turned back for another look at the building. “I can’t believe this is how my plans ended.”
Dodo burst through the double doors behind them. He looked flushed and conciliatory. Willow was at his heels. She had her chin up. Security must have tipped Dodo off that they were there. Fine. He wanted a chat. Why had he let Willow come too? Would Willow apologize? That would not help. Was Dodo going to fight for his fiancée? Let her know she didn’t have to quit her job? That might help.
Piper shifted her hold and clutched the box to her chest. Would Dahlia fall for his crap?
Dahlia backed up to the rail on the ramp. Piper followed. If this were Titanic, they were standing in the position of Rose and Jack on the sinking ship.
The smell from the dumpsters carried strongly in this back part of the lot. That fit this moment perfectly.
“Now, darling, you’re not listening to me.” Dodo eyed the box Piper carried, but his words were to his former fiancée. “That was a little lapse, not really what it looked like.”
His argument might have worked had they not seen the full Applebaum.
On one hand, Piper should ease down the ramp, leave the couple to their privacy for this discussion. On the other hand, she’d driven and was holding Dahlia’s stuff. Plus, Willow was there, and she didn’t want them to have the advantage of two against one. She’d take her cue from Dahlia.
“I knew things weren’t working out.” Dahlia shook her head. “You always tried to persuade me they were.” She sounded bewildered.
Dodo held open his arms. “It’s hard for a man to go without. That’s all this was.”
Was that true?
Willow made a hurt sound like their sexual intercourse had been special. “Dodo.”
Piper felt zero sympathy for Willow. Zero? Please, Calista was her sister. She knew math better than that. She felt negative infinity. No number was less than the number representing how sorry she felt for Willow. Not her place to insult. She was not the aggrieved party, despite how many flashback ick feelings were coursing through her. She was here as moral support.
“Here’s how our breakup will go.” Dahlia’s voice flattened. “We’ll call the engagement off graciously. No social media, no press, no scandal.” She took a step to the right, toward the parking lot.
Dodo come forward. “Darling, that’s not what I want.”
“I don’t care what you want.” Dahlia drew his belt from the paper bag. The lucky puck smacked down onto the concrete, stopping Dodo in his tracks. Willow’s G-string clung on like a koala squatting on a eucalyptus branch.
Her cousin was legit more mature than her. She’d be using the totem for target practice. Dahlia rolled the end of the belt around her palm like a water hose.
“Oh.” Dodo’s erect posture, his sharp gaze on the black disk, said she had his attention. “You brought my puck back. I appreciate that. Now, let’s go somewhere and talk. Just the two of us.” Dodo’s voice had the compelling command of a billionaire used to getting his way.
Poor move on Dodo’s part. He should have argued for his fiancée to come to him, not to get his lucky puck back.
Dahlia looked at the brown leather around her hand. The red G-string fluttered downward. She didn’t move for a second, then she opened her purse, took out her engagement ring, and threaded the red lace through the band. She tied the fabric into a knot, securing the ring.
Ow, the last time that ring had been so close to the puck had likely been when Dodo had gotten on one knee and offered his world to her, using the puck as a platter. What an ugly end.
“Dahlia, darling, hand that over,” Dodo said.
The wind blew the stench from the dumpster their way, adding to the rank moment. The strawberry G-string fluttered in the breeze.
Dodo shook his palm wanting Dahlia to hurry.
Idiot, another plea for the belt? He was pushing for the wrong object of his affection instead of apologizing long and loud to the beautiful woman he had loved and lost.
Dodo’s gaze turned to Piper. “You work for me. Get the puck from her.”