Chapter Sixteen
Cris
At the bar, Vivian accepts a flute of champagne from the bartender and puts it in my hand. Her eyes are wild when she says, “Okay, what is going on with this dress and Benji drooling all over himself?”
I smooth one hand along the bodice of the dress I nearly returned. I’m glad I didn’t. It’s a stunner, and I wouldn’t dare wear it anywhere else. But, as Benji reminded me, tonight is special, and not because of the fundraiser.
“The dress I packed was drab. By the time I saw this one in the window I figured, why not?” I smile at my friend. She’s studying me like an algebra equation where x equals “Cris is lying through her recently whitened teeth.”
“Things have progressed between you and the smiley Owen, haven’t they? He’s bringing you dinner. You’re ignoring my calls.”
“I’m not ignoring you,” I bleat. But I sort of am. I don’t know what to make of what’s happening in my own head. How can I explain it to someone else?
“You’d better give me deets,” she hisses, sounding a little scary.
“This is hardly the place for details the likes of which I have to share.” I raise my eyebrows meaningfully as I take a sip of my champagne. This delights my friend, who is back to grinning like a madwoman. Excited by her excitement, I whisper, “Tonight’s the night.”
“You’re finally going to let him work his magic. You might combust when he kisses you. You two have been flirting around touching each other for so long.”
“We’ve already…” I take a furtive glance around the room. Benji and Nate and Archer are standing in a suited-man circle, each looking like different cuts of the finest beef on the menu. I turn back to Vivian. “We’ve already done some stuff.”
“What stuff?” She leans in.
“Sexy stuff,” I say, almost defensively. “Just not it.”
“Oh. Oh! You mean tonight is the night you cross a certain act off your bucket list.” Her face melts and then she coos, “And with Benji.”
“Shh!” I warn.
“I want to tell everyone. But I won’t. I didn’t tell Nate. Do you know how difficult it is not to tell him things?”
I wouldn’t mind if she did. I trust Nate. But it’s sweet she didn’t rat me out.
“It’s none of my business anyway,” she lies.
“Liar,” I remind her.
“I know. I made it my business, and I’m not sorry either. It’s the best news ever.”
“It’s risky. This is my job we’re talking about. And he’s my best friend.” Could I have made the stakes any higher? And yet, I can’t blame myself for wanting to indulge.
“It’s past time for you to take a risk. Nate and I balance the friend and sex and work thing. You can do it too.”
Happily changing the subject, I ask her about working at Grand Marin. She shares how she’s learning the ins and outs of property management and quickly segues into how she wants to build her own shopping center or live-work. “If I can find a decent location, which is key. I’m finally starting to feel like my old self.” She pauses. “Actually, that’s not true. I don’t feel like my old self. I feel better than my old self. Confident. Certain. I have no idea how things will go, but I know I can handle what’s on the other side.”
I’m happy for her, and at the same time slightly envious. I want to feel certain. “Of course you can, Vivian. You’re the strongest woman I know.”
“Thanks, hon.” She spares me a smile. “It’s a small matter of naming what I want and going after it. Back when I worked for my father, I was hustling and racing around trying to make every hoop jumpable. And setting most of them on fire in the process. Self-sabotage is totally a thing.” She touches my arm. “Don’t sabotage what you and Benji have. You two are good together. You’re about to make it better.”
I smile and nod, not sharing my worries about the future. Living in the present moment is really freaking hard sometimes.
“Are you nervous?”
I have to think about her question for a second.
“You know, I don’t think I am. We’ve eased into this by doing a host of other things.” I think back to the shower and taking him into my mouth and blush. “I imagine he’ll be as great at sex as he is everything else.”
My eyes flit across the room to study his lean, fit build in a streamlined, expensive dark suit. His hair is styled to perfection, his smile infectious.