The Invitation by Vi Keeland(47)

“Yeah, of course.”

She sipped her wine. “How about your family? Do you have any siblings besides Olivia?”

I shook my head. “Just the one. Thank God. I couldn’t afford another wedding.”

“I’m sure having a wedding at the library must’ve cost a small fortune. One of the women whose diaries I read a while ago got married there, too. I fell in love with the way she described it. At the time I was reading it, I worked nearby, and I used to go sit outside on the library stairs for lunch every day and read a few pages. I always looked around and wondered if the man she’d married might be passing by, since they’d obviously lived local at one time.”

“You told me the diaries are your version of reality TV. But it sounds more like romantic fantasy than reality, if you ask me.”

“Actually,” she said. “That particular diary turned out to be more like a horror story. It was part of the reason I found out Aiden was cheating on me.”

“How so?”

“The diary had big gaps in time and spanned a few years. But after the over-the-moon wedding at the library, things apparently turned sour. She went from entries where she described the beautiful venue and her flowers, to entries where she described how she was covering up an affair. Some of the things she was doing hit home because I’d noticed the same changes in Aiden—like he’d started to work late and then shower as soon as he came home. The woman described how much she hated to wash the smell of her lover off, and she said she actually resented her husband because she had to shower right away when she came home after one of her dalliances. That led me to start asking Aiden questions. At first he made me think I was paranoid. He blamed the diaries I read for planting things in my head that didn’t exist. But more and more, things made me suspect something was going on. I’m actually pretty ashamed of how crazy I became at the end.”

“What could you have done to be ashamed of? Sounds like your ex is the one who should be ashamed.”

Stella looked away for a moment. “How did we get to talking about me again? We’re supposed to be talking about you.”

“I think the mention of my sister’s wedding at the library took us down a path. I don’t think I told you, but I was also married there.”

“Really? Your sister got married at the same place you did?”

I nodded. “Our parents were married there, too. Ever since she was little, Olivia had been saying both of our weddings were going to be there. I’m glad she didn’t let my outcome take that away from her.”

We finished our drinks, but neither Jack nor Robyn had shown up. I looked at my watch and realized they were twenty minutes late.

Stella noticed. “We were supposed to meet them at seven, right?”

I nodded and glanced over to the front entrance. No one was waiting. “Let me double-check. Maybe I got the time wrong.” I took out my phone and clicked into the text message Jack had sent. We were in the right place at the right time, so I shot my buddy a text.

Hudson: Did you change the restaurant or something? Stella and I are the only ones at The NoMad.

Stella’s wine was empty. I motioned to her glass. “You want another?”

“I shouldn’t.”

“But do you want one?”

She laughed. “I’ll pass. I want to keep a clear head during dinner with Robyn.”

A minute later, my phone chimed with a response from Jack.

Jack: Did I forget to mention that the celebration was canceled for tonight? Robyn couldn’t get a sitter. She’s going to let me know what works for her next week.

I typed back.

Hudson: WTF? Yes, you did.

Jack: Guess it must’ve slipped my mind. Go celebrate without us tonight. Unless you’re not up for it? I can always text Brent to come take Stella off your hands…

I shook my head.

Hudson: You’re such a dick. You did this on purpose, didn’t you?

Jack: You’re welcome, my friend.

I tossed my phone on the bar.

“Everything okay?” Stella asked.

“Apparently something came up and dinner’s been rescheduled. My jackass of a friend forgot to let me know.”

“Oh. Wow. Okay.”

My buddy’s tactics might have been underhanded, but I couldn’t say I was displeased with the result.

“We’re on the same side now, right?”

Stella’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“You didn’t want to have another drink because we were having dinner with business associates. But you and I aren’t business associates, we’re co-owners. So we’re on the same side.”

She smiled. “I guess I have less to worry about now, considering I’ve already made a fool out of myself in front of you multiple times.”

“What do you say we have that second drink while we order dinner? We should still celebrate.”

She bit her bottom lip.

I reached out with my thumb, rubbing until she released it. “Stop worrying. It’s not a date. We’re just business partners and friends having dinner. I won’t maul you until you ask me out.”





CHAPTER 16


Stella



“You’re not going to have another?”