When We Met (Fool's Gold #13)(82)

Her three friends rose and hugged her.

“Are you okay?” they asked together.

Taryn smiled at her friends. “I’m fine. We all made it out okay. I don’t want to repeat the experience, but the Acorns I’ve talked to are all taking it well.”

They sat down.

“Larissa can’t make it to lunch,” Taryn told them. “Jack sent her to a seminar on sports injuries. She’s not a physical therapist, but she keeps up on the latest information in the field.” She grinned.

Jo came and took their drink orders, explained the specials, then went back to the bar.

Isabel nudged Consuelo. “You’re glowing. You know that, right?”

Taryn looked at the petite brunette. Consuelo seemed happy and tanned. Taryn had a feeling there was more going on here than a simple two-week vacation in a tropical paradise.

“Kent and I had a really good time on our honeymoon,” she said with a shy smile. “We really talked about our lives and what we want.”

“A baby?” Noelle asked, her eyebrows raised.

“We talked about it but we decided we’re going to adopt instead. We’re interested in older children. Siblings who don’t want to be split up.”

Taryn blinked. “That’s a lot to take on.”

“I know.” Consuelo grinned. “I think we can handle it. We’ve talked to Reese about it and he’s excited.”

“Big news,” Isabel said. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” Consuelo looked at Taryn. “I heard you had a party while I was gone. The clothing exchange.”

“We did.” Taryn turned to Dellina and Isabel. “You two did a great job with it.”

“Thanks,” Dellina said. “It was a lot of fun. I think we should make it a semiannual event. People were really generous with the donations. We ended up with nearly a thousand dollars for the women’s shelter.”

Taryn was surprised. “That’s great.”

“It is,” Noelle said. “I love what I took home. I think we could do a fall and spring party. You know—get ready for the season. I have a winter coat from last year that’s still in great shape, but there’s no way I want to wear it for another winter.”

Isabel nodded. “One of the things I’m going to love about working on the boutique side rather than with the wedding dresses is being able to dress differently. For the designer clothes, I get to be trendy. On the bridal side, it’s all about blending into the background.”

Dellina grinned. “Tired of wearing your little black dress every day.”

“Yeah. It’s not like I got to wear something cute, either. Never outshine the bride. I dressed like I was constantly going to a funeral.”

“Dress for comfort,” Consuelo told her.

“Not everyone can get away with cargo pants and a tank top as work attire.”

Taryn listened to their conversation. This was nice, she thought. Relaxing and a distraction from the hole in her heart. She could go entire minutes without thinking about Angel, which was a welcome break.

“I’m going to check with the shelter,” Noelle was saying. “I want to find out about volunteer opportunities.”

“That’s a good—” Dellina stopped in midsentence and turned to Taryn. “What? What is it?”

Taryn stared at her. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Dellina shook her head. “No, it’s something. Something big. What happened?” She touched Taryn’s arm. “I have sisters and I know when a woman is holding back significant information.” She bit her lower lip. “It’s bad, isn’t it? I can see it in your eyes.”

Taryn wasn’t sure which was more disconcerting. That she might be losing her steely exterior or that Dellina might be psychic.

Isabel stared at Taryn. “You’re right.” Her face softened as concern filled her eyes. “Tell us. Are you okay? Are you feeling sick or something?”

Noelle wrinkled her nose. “I’m so not in tune with what’s going on,” she said with a grumble. “Now you have to say or I’m going to feel like an idiot.”

“Me, too,” Consuelo grumbled.

Taryn thought about trying to lie her way out of the situation but wasn’t sure she was capable. Not when she felt like emotional roadkill.

She cleared her throat. “It’s Angel,” she said quietly. “We, um, broke up.”

“Why?”

“No way. You were great together.”

Dellina continued to study her. “He hurt you.”

Taryn shrugged. “I broke the rules. We were both clear. It was an affair, not a relationship. That’s what we both wanted. Only I fell in love with him and when I told him...”

Tears filled her eyes, and her throat got tight. She had to breathe for a second before she could continue. “He left,” she finished. “It’s been a couple of days. I haven’t seen him since.”

All four of them reached for Taryn and hung on.

“Are you sleeping at all?” Noelle asked. “Can you eat? You have to keep up your strength or you’ll get sick.”

Isabel patted her hand sympathetically. “Want me to ask Ford to beat him up?”