He chuckled as he walked to the door. “Do you need a minute or…?”
I rolled my eyes at him. “Let me grab my phone and I’ll be with you.” I went to his bedroom and grabbed my phone off the side. Readjusting myself, I willed myself to calm down before I walked back out. “I’m ready.”
Isobel was dressed in a sparkly dress that ended at her knee. “You’re looking pretty.” I smiled at her before I leaned down and kissed her cheek.
“Thanks.” She smiled up at me before she gave a playful tug on my tie. “You’re not looking so bad yourself.” She gave a cheeky wink to Freddie. “Are you guys ready to party?”
“Absolutely!” I held my arm out for her. “Where’s Chrissie?” I asked her as we followed Freddie out of the door. I flicked my lights off before I closed the door and guided Isobel down the hallway.
“She’s going to meet us there.” We stepped into the elevator and Isobel asked, “Are you nervous, Luke? Meeting the main best friend is kind of a big step.”
I gave her a tense smile, deciding to be honest. “A little.” I looked at Freddie and was relieved when I saw him smile at me. “But you and Chrissie liked me, so I am thinking it’ll be the same for the famous Everleigh.”
She shrugged her shoulders dismissively. “You’re okay, I guess.” We all laughed when she said that. “She’ll love you.” She reached over and squeezed my hand. “When she sees how happy you make Freddie?” I looked at Freddie when she said that. “That’ll be all she will need. Just like me and Chrissie.”
I nodded my head at her, happy with her words, and as the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened, I followed her and Freddie out, interested—for the first time—to see what tonight would bring.
* * *
“Here she comes! Here she comes!” Chrissie let out an excited squeal as she came back in through the doors. “Dawson just messaged. They are in the elevator.”
I chuckled at how enthusiastic she sounded. She sounded like a kid on Christmas morning. “I thought you were the excitable one,” I muttered to Isobel.
“We both are.” She grinned at me from where she was standing next to Freddie. He was now cocooned on both sides by his girls, and I loved how happy he looked. He still looked a little nervous, but I could see that he was beginning to let himself become excited.
“Dawson told her we all had to work. Said he’d treat her to a drink first and then take her down to the Reception area to say hello after.”
“Lies in a relationship are never okay,” Robert mocked in a serious tone from next to me.
I rolled my eyes at him before I looked over. I elbowed him when I saw his eyes were glued to Chrissie’s arse. She was wearing a red satin dress, and it didn’t exactly leave a lot to the imagination due to how tight it cupped her waist before it flowed down over her legs.
“Seriously,” I muttered in a quiet tone.
“What?” He took a sip of his pint before a cocky grin appeared on his face. “She’s hot.”
I chuckled when I thought about how Freddie would react if Robert tried to mess around with Chrissie. That would be interesting—and quite amusing—to witness. I straightened up just in time for the surprise. Everleigh entered first with Dawson right on her heels.
“Surprise!” Freddie, Isobel and Chrissie called out.
I couldn’t decide if Everleigh was terrified or overjoyed as she froze in shock. Within seconds, Isobel was running to her with her arms outstretched.
“Welcome home!” she shrieked as she wrapped her arms around Everleigh and the ladies rocked from side to side. “Did we frighten you?” she asked as she pulled back.
“A little.” She laughed as she pulled Chrissie into a hug and after they kissed each other on the cheeks, they gave much calmer hugs to the man at their side. I’m assuming that guy was our boss, Dawson.
As I looked at him, I couldn’t escape the feeling of déjà vu I was experiencing. I felt like I knew that man from somewhere, but I just couldn’t figure out where. As I looked at Freddie, I hated that he hadn’t joined the hug-fest. As the girls stepped aside and Everleigh gazed at Freddie, I knew that was about to change.
“Hey, stranger.” She smiled at him before she took a few steps toward him. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” I noticed the way his hands were tensed at his sides and I wanted more than anything to stand at his side and hold his hand.
“Don’t I get a hug?” She held her hands out and within moments, Freddie was walking toward her.
He wrapped his arms around her and crushed her small frame against his.
This hug was different to the one that she shared with the girls. This hug was full of intimacy, longing, and a shared past. If Freddie was hugging a guy like this, I’d probably be insanely jealous, but seeing him hug the woman that was there before I was, I just felt happy.
He had been so nervous to see her again. I was relieved that that didn’t seem to be the case for her. They were two friends who were happy to be back in each other’s arms again.