Twenty-Two
In the week since I-Love-You-gate, Stefanie had gone shopping...a lot.
Since she’d been raiding every boutique within a thirty-mile radius, she decided to put a few of her new things—furniture, dress, champagne glasses—to good use and have a girls’ night in.
She’d been practically buried in Emmett’s world and had started missing her own. Namely, her apartment decor, which she might have taken to the extreme. She’d spotted a shimmery throw pillow and decided to redecorate everything in gold and white. Clean, comfy lines and crisp, bright, clean colors.
Hence the new white leather sofa, gold-and-white leopard-print ottoman, gilt-framed mirror, gold candles and sheer white curtains.
Yes, she’d done plenty of shopping.
Champagne poured, Stefanie glided into the living room with a tray of stemmed glasses. Pen sat on the ottoman, her white pantsuit pristine and fitting in nicely with Stef’s new living room, and Mimi was dressed as per her usual in bright jewel tones. She sat on the sofa in a no-muss-no-fuss pair of slim dark denim jeans and ruby-red sweater.
“You do know how to entertain,” she praised, taking a flute from the tray and pushing a lock of her wavy dark hair behind her ear.
“Is this new?” Pen patted the ottoman with one hand before taking her own flute.
“Yes. The couch, too.” Stef set the tray on the coffee table, a clear acrylic one she’d bought last year. See? She’d kept a few things!
“Hmm.” Pen tapped the glass with her fingernail and looked around.
“Hmm, what?” But Stef was pretty sure she knew.
“It’s interesting that you’re buying new furniture for your place. I was under the impression you were staying with Emmett.”
“I am.” Stef smoothed her hand over the middle cushion and sat, aware of Mimi’s raised brow of interest. “I had to have this sofa, and white isn’t exactly in Emmett’s color scheme at his place.”
“I like it,” Mimi said. Kindly. “Thank you for inviting me out. I don’t spend enough time with you two.”
“Sorry about that,” Pen said with a wince. “I’m so busy with work and Olivia. I haven’t been prioritizing my friends—or my family.”
“Totally understandable.” Mimi, ever the laid-back one, brushed the topic aside with a hand. “It’s nice to do something girlie that doesn’t require hiking boots.”
Miriam worked in Dallas at the Conservation Society. She had a history of protesting the oil industry, which had caused some bumps in the road between her and Chase—and a certain pain-in-the-keister Dallas blogger, Stef thought with an eye roll. But Miriam wasn’t only tough and opinionated, she was also lovely and had added the perfect bevel to Chase’s straightedge.
“That said...” Mimi eased back onto the sofa, crossing an arm over her waist and propping the hand holding her champagne flute. “What’s really going on with your marriage to Emmett, Stef?”
“I not only suspect you have formed your own opinions,” Stefanie answered, “I also assume that my marriage is a frequent topic of discussion in the Chase Ferguson mansion.”
Mimi had relocated from Montana and moved in with Chase almost instantaneously. Stef had always been amazed by that—the way her future sister-in-law had turned away from her life in Montana for him. Although Chase owned a drop-dead gorgeous Montana lake house, so it wasn’t as if they’d never go back. They’d decided to have their wedding in the mansion, but the date was on hold due to—what else?—Chase’s campaign.
“Chase might’ve brought up your names a few times.” Mimi gave her a coy smile. “I understand what it’s like to leave everything behind and move into a man’s house.” She nodded as she took in the living room. “I also understand the desire to have your own space.”
“As do I.” Pen’s tone could only be described as droll. “When Zach bought me out of my lease, I felt evicted from my own life. Good thing I love that man.” But her smile warmed at the memory. At the time Pen hadn’t felt warmly about Zach’s heavy hand, but it’d been his way of showing he loved her.
“You two are meant to be, and Olivia is a princess,” Miriam said approvingly. “I love Chase. I have always loved Chase.” Her gaze softened on a distant point in the room before snapping back to Stef. “When you’re in love it makes the compromise worth it.”
“Only when you are both in love. With each other,” Stef murmured into her delicate flute. She swallowed the rest of her champagne before grabbing the bottle and pouring herself a refill. When she offered her guests the same, she found both women eyeing her with interest.
“You’re in love with him,” Mimi said matter-of-factly.
“She has been for a while,” Pen confirmed. “She busted into my office, and caught Zach on top of me with his pants down, to announce how much she loved Emmett.”
“Scarred for life,” Stef said, and everyone giggled, including her.
“Have you told him?” Miriam asked.
With a deep sigh of acceptance, Stef confirmed that she had. “He didn’t react. We finished our brunch and drove home and then he took a nap.”