Grounded (Up in the Air, #3)(75)

Danika watched him go. She smiled at me. “He’s so different with you. It’s a lovely thing to see.”

I smiled back.

Danika wore a very modern take on a woman’s suit, with pleated, slate gray shorts, and a baggy white men’s shirt that was belted at the waist. She looked delicate and lovely. I thought she was the most elegant woman I’d ever met. Her hair was parted down the middle, and as she bent down to show me some detail of her plans, it trailed into her face like a silky black curtain. I wondered again what had happened between her and Tristan, but I shook myself out of the pointless musings. We had lots of work to do, and I could hardly ask.

We worked well together. Danika was never pushy, but she did finally get me to settle on a date for the showing. We scheduled it for the first Friday after my furlough began. James would be ecstatic. I was nervous—so nervous that I felt a little nauseous just thinking about it.

“Do you have any other big plans for after you take your leave?”

I smiled, remembering our plans. That was something I could get very excited about. “James and I are going to Japan.”

She raised her elegant brows in surprise. “Well, that’s exciting. My mother was half-Japanese. I didn’t know her well, but I’ve always had a fascination with Japanese culture.”

I smiled. “I have no blood-ties there, but I’ve always been interested in the culture, as well. We’re going there because James said pick a spot on a map of the world, and I knew just where I wanted to go.”

She smiled back, tilting her head. “Well, have fun. I bet the locals will get a kick out of you two.”

I laughed. “Yeah, right? I don’t suppose we’ll blend in.”

She pursed her lips. “Do you ever? I don’t see too many supermodel couples strolling around together.”

I wrinkled my nose at her. “James is the supermodel.”

Her lovely brow wrinkled in consternation. “So it’s like that, huh? You’re going to need to work on your self-esteem, girl, to be with a man like that, otherwise it could be the end of you two.”

I blinked at her. Her tone had been gentle but firm, so I didn’t take offense. I just didn’t agree. “I don’t have low self-esteem. I just know that I’m not in that league.”

She shook her head stubbornly, her silky black hair moving across her shoulders with the movement, her rosebud mouth pursing. “That’s ludicrous. Answer one question for me. Have you ever been approached by a modeling scout before?”

I flushed. “Not by anyone serious. A few people have said something, but I knew they were just trying to scam me.”

She gave me a sympathetic look. “Seriously, as someone who has a real hetero-girl-crush on you, you need to work on your self-esteem. You’re stunning, and you need to just acknowledge the fact and then get over it.”

The whole conversation made me uncomfortable. “Um, thanks. So did we have any other details to go over for the showing?”

She sighed and shook her head. “No. Let’s go grab Frankie and get something to eat. I can’t come to town and not see her. She’d kill me.”

We had an impromptu girls’ lunch. I wasn’t sure if it was a late lunch or an early dinner.

Frankie greeted me with a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and a huge grin. She wore her usual half-shirt with daisy dukes, showing off her myriad tattoos.

“I just spoke to James,” she told us. “He needs to work for a few hours, and he told me to keep you entertained. Sucker.” She rubbed her hands together like an evil cartoon character. “I have plans.”

Danika laughed richly. “Oh boy. He’s in trouble, huh?”

Frankie nodded. I tried to follow the strange conversation.

“First we eat,” she told us.

We went to the casino’s Mexican restaurant. We ordered and started snacking on chips and salsa.

“Do you mind if I bring Tristan to Bianca’s gallery showing?” Frankie asked Danika, studying her closely.

Danika didn’t hesitate. “Why would I mind? Bring whoever you want.”

“Well, I know you aren’t speaking to him…”

“That’s not true. He and I have absolutely nothing to talk about, but I’m not avoiding him.”

Frankie nodded. “Good. Because I have a red carpet thing for my show coming up. It’s in town next week, and I want you to come. I was worried you wouldn’t come, since Tristan will be there, but now you can’t use that as an excuse.”

Danika just shrugged. “If you want me there, I’ll be there. Tristan and I will just stay out of each other’s way.”

Frankie sighed. “You used to be best friends. I wish you guys would at least start talking again.”

Danika gave her a hard look. “Don’t meddle, Frankie. Trust me when I say that you don’t want to press this issue. I can be civil, but he and I will never be close again. We are bad for each other, even as friends. Bad things happen when we get together.”

“You’d feel better if you forgave him—“

“I did forgive him. We went through all of that when he was doing the rehab thing. I’m over it, but forgiving doesn’t mean that I’m willing to make all of the same stupid mistakes again.”

“You know he’s in love with you, right?”