He makes some golf joke that has the other three laughing. I flash the fakest smile you’ve ever seen, using my empty glass as a cover when I raise it to my lips and say, “Oh—well, will you look at that? Empty.” I tap the side of my glass with my manicured fingernail. “Excuse me gentlemen, won’t you?”
They release me with polite nods, and I slip away, hurrying off in the direction of the cash bar. The bottom of my dress swishes around my ankles. It’s a cute, ocean blue number with off-the-shoulder sleeves and a sweetheart bodice. The dress reaches the floor, with knee-high slits to either side. I’ve paired the look with my hair up and some fake, chunky emeralds in my ears.
Rachel meets me halfway to the cash bar, a glass of white wine clutched in either hand. She holds one out to me. “I was on my way to rescue you.”
“My hero,” I sigh, taking a sip of the chilled chardonnay. I glance over my shoulder to make sure I’m far enough away before adding, “Those might be the three dullest men on the planet.”
“But they all sit on the city council,” she says with a shrug, leading the way over to a standing table where Caleb waits, guarding several small plates of food. “I made him get you one of everything,” she says, gesturing at the plates.
“Oh, I can’t eat now,” I say with a wave of my hand. “I need to mingle—”
“Tess—” She grabs my arm to reel me back in. “Look around you, hon. It’s a smash hit. People are already saying we should do this again next year. Take a second, take a breath, and eat some food.”
I glance down at the rainbow array of appetizers. “Ooo, did you try the mac and cheese?” I snatch up the mini serving, complete with panko breadcrumbs browned on top. I couldn’t believe it when the caterer had it on her menu.
“Yeah, it’s delicious,” Rachel replies.
“I ate, like, six of them,” Caleb adds. “What’s in it? Crab?”
“Lobster,” I say, taking a bite. The white cheddar is melty and warm around the noodles, pairing well with the sweet notes of the lobster meat. “Oh god, that’s good.”
My stomach has been growling for the last thirty minutes, but I’ve been too busy to eat. I finish my helping of mac and cheese in four bites, then I pop a couple bacon-wrapped dates before munching on the crudités.
“You all good?” Caleb says at Rachel. “Need anything?”
“We’re good,” she replies, smiling up at him. “Thanks, babe.”
He leans over the table, pecking her lips before wandering off in the direction where all the other Rays have congregated. I glance around him to see Ryan mingling in the mix. He’s been casting me flirty winks and smiles all evening.
“Cay seems to be settling into married life,” I say, nibbling on another carrot stick.
Rachel smiles. “He’s my mystery boy. The other two are so easy to figure out. Ilmari because he does exactly what he wants when he wants, and Jake because he has no filter and speaks his every thought and desire out loud. Cay is harder to read. He makes us all work for it.”
“But you like a challenge,” I say. “If they were all easy to read, you’d get bored.”
“True,” she says, taking a sip of her wine.
“So…that thing about the pageant babies—”
“Not pregnant,” she says, cutting me off. “Are you kidding me? We only just got married. I have four very big personalities living in one house. Five if we count Poseidon—”
“Which we do,” I chime.
“We all need time to settle. I want us to feel like…us,” she says, not finding a better word. “We need to be us before we can be more.”
“But you want more? Eventually, I mean?”
“Oh, yeah,” she says with a smile, and my stupid little heart flutters for her. “We all do. And yes, if and when I spawn, I will name you their godmother,” she adds.
“They’ll need their Auntie Tess,” I tease. “Who else will teach them how to throw such a fabulous soirée?”
She just laughs.
I reach across the table, squeezing her hand. “I’m happy for you, Rach.”
Before she can respond, Poppy St. James comes breezing up to our table in a flouncy, strapless lilac dress, her hair up in a big, blonde bun. “Hey, y’all, what did I miss? Anything good?” She snatches up a carrot stick off my plate, taking a bite.
I take in her flushed cheeks, her squirrelly behavior, and her messy hair. Usually, Social Media Barbie doesn’t have a single hair out of place on her pretty blonde head. The only other time I’ve seen her looking like this was when…
My gaze snaps to Rachel, and I know she’s already gotten there too.
“Poppy…” she says, a glint in her eye. “Where did you just come from?”
“The bathroom,” she replies, but her eyes give her away. Has this woman ever told a lie in her life?
“Don’t you lie to me,” Rachel presses, seeing right through her too. “Were you just hooking up with someone?”
Poppy huffs, plopping her half-eaten carrot back onto my plate. “Why don’t you just scream your foul accusations to the high heavens?”
“You’re as bad as this one,” I say, jabbing a thumb at Rachel, relieved the secret is out.
“Hey, I’ve been good all night, I swear,” Rachel says, raising one hand in mock oath. “The gala host’s wife isn’t allowed to sneak off into coat closets, right?”
“I don’t know what you two are talking about,” Poppy replies. “I stepped out for five minutes to answer the phone and use the bathroom.”
As she speaks, Novy walks past our table, straightening his tie with a quick, “Evening, ladies.”
Hearing his voice, Poppy goes still, her back so ramrod straight, someone must have just shoved a telephone pole up her booty.
Rachel and I exchange another glance. She waits for Novy to clear our table before she descends. “Poppy,” she gasps. “You and Novy—”
“Shhhh.” Poppy waves a hand in her face. “Will you hush up?”
“You horny little horndog,” I tease. “In front of the turtles, Poppy?”
“Oh, please,” she says with a righteous huff. “If you two aren’t the pot calling the kettle black. First there’s you, Miss I Married Three Hockey Players,” she tosses at Rachel. “And don’t think we don’t see the way you look at Langley like you wanna climb him like a tree,” she adds at me.
“Actually, it’s the other way around,” I reply, wholly unashamed. It’s not like he’s my colleague or my patient. And Ryan and I agreed last night that we’re going public. “He was the one climbing me when we first got here. I may have given him a lil’ taste in the storage room.”
Poppy just huffs again, snatching a glass of wine off a passing tray.
Rachel leans in, elbow on the table. “So, uhh, how long have you two been...you know?”
“That is absolutely none of your business,” Poppy replies, taking a sip of her wine.
I glance from her to Rachel. “Did you—”
“Blegh.” Poppy spits the wine back into her glass. “Will someone take this away from me?” She slaps the glass down and slides it away.
Rachel’s eyes go big as saucers, and I’m sure I’m not any better.
“Wait—are you pregnant?” I say.
Color blooms in Poppy’s cheeks as tears fill her eyes.
“Oh…Pop.” Rachel closes a hand around Poppy’s, giving it a squeeze. “It’s Novy’s, isn’t it? Does he know?”
“I…” Poppy sniffles, her pink lips pursed as she tries not to cry.
Rachel is trying to read her. “Wait…it’s not his?”
“Ohmygod. She’s not sure.”
Both women glance over sharply at me.
Fuck. I just said that out loud, didn’t I? I blame the mac and cheese. “You’re not…are you? You’re not sure.”
Slowly, Poppy shakes her head.
“This is a lot of information to digest at the turtle gala,” Rachel says, her dark eyes wide. “Well, are you—I mean—is it two guys on the team?”
Poppy snatches up the wine glass, ready to take another sip, before she gasps and shoves it away. “Oh, for Pete’s sake! No, okay? I don’t know who the father is. And yes, they’re both on the team. And yes, I know I’m a mess. So why don’t you just slap the scarlet ‘A’ on my chest and tie me to the stake already? Because this wanton hussy has two gentleman callers. And you know what? I’m not picking. You didn’t have to pick so why should I?” She snatches up the wine glass again, realizes it’s in her hand and shrieks, shoving it at me. “Gosh darn it!”