I looked down at the dress I had bought a few weeks before but never worn. I complimented it with a gold bracelet and gold hoop earrings. I left my brown hair straight and it hung to the middle of my back.
“I’d love it more on the floor of our bedroom right about now,” he grinned, his pupils dilating.
“We can always go,” I said nonchalantly. “I’m open to the idea.”
He chuckled again, leaning back. “Let’s eat fast and get out of here. I just need a quick glance at this guy Sam’s dating.”
Resigned to our fate, I sat back in my chair, too. “What do we know about this guy?”
He shrugged. “I think his name is Briar or something. Sam just wants to make sure she’s not wasting her time on him. She thinks he’s in love with an ex-girlfriend, I think.”
“Ex-issues aren’t good.”
“Nah, they aren’t. But this guy’s ex, I guess, aborted his baby and didn’t tell him. So that kind of screwed with his head.”
My heart lurched in my chest at the thought. “I’d imagine it would screw with him. Maybe Sam should back off. It sounds like he needs to work things out with his ex—find some peace or something.”
What am I saying? No! No, I want her with this guy and her sights off Max!
“Or,” I continued hurriedly, “maybe she is looking too much into things.”
“We’ll see,” Max said with amusement. The corners of his lips turned up and I knew he saw right through me.
I looked across the restaurant and saw the hostess heading our way. I could see Sam’s blonde curls behind her. “They’re here,” I said as sweetly as I could.
Max sat up in his seat as they approached. “Don’t get overly chatty tonight. I need that dress on the floor as soon as possible.”
The seriousness in his tone made me laugh. “No worries there, babe.”
“The rest of your party is here,” the hostess said, stepping out of the way. “Your server will be right with you. Enjoy your evening.”
“Hey!” Sam smiled happily. “It’s good to see you guys.”
Max rose and pulled out her chair, which she accepted with a wide grin. “Thank you, Max.” He eyed me cautiously, letting me know he was just being polite. I fought against rolling my eyes. “Kari,” she said, turning towards me, “you look pretty tonight.”
“Thank you,” I said as nicely as I could. “I love that color on you.”
She looked down at her powder pink dress. “Thanks. I don’t love pink, but I loved the way this fit.”
“So,” Max said, clearing his throat. I looked at him and he mouthed “chatty,” making me laugh. He shook his head and turned his sights on Samantha. “Where’s he at?”
“He had to take a quick call. I know it’s so rude, but he’s been waiting on it all day. He’ll be here in a second.”
“How did you meet him?” I asked, figuring we may as well make small talk.
“At a bar. But it’s not what you think,” she laughed, tossing her curls behind her shoulder and pressing her lips together. “He was there with a client and I was there . . . well, I was there with Brielle with less honorable intentions,” she winked. “Oh, there he is now.”
I followed her eyes across the room to the tall, dark headed man walking towards us.
I grabbed the edges of my chair to keep myself from falling.
I couldn’t breathe.
My heart stopped beating.
Blaine!
KARI
He was shoving his phone in his pocket with one hand, running his other through his hair like he did when he was nervous. He had on black dress pants and a blue dress shirt that I already knew was the same color as his eyes.
He looked a bit older than he had the last time I had seen him. His hair was shorter and his skin had more color, which surprised me with the skin cancer that ran in his family. He was always so careful to stay covered in the sun.
I couldn’t move, frozen to my seat. I gripped the chair with every bit of strength I had, knowing I’d fall out of it if I didn’t. I expected to feel the sting of tears, a surge of anger or sorrow or something, but I didn’t. I felt numb. Unable to feel anything, really. It was surreal.
Blaine walked to the table, his gaze trained on Samantha. He sent her a small smile, one that I knew was telling her that he didn’t really want to be here. I wondered if she knew it.
I forced my eyes closed, knowing that when I opened them, everything in my life would be different. And, quite possibly, ruined. These last few seconds very well might be the last few happy moments of my life, the last moments before things were sent into a chaotic spiral.
Fuck. My. Life.