A Cosmic Kind of Love(69)

Listening to the voice in the back of my head that reminded me I had no right to be indignant because Hallie and I were just friends, I reined in the emotion and shoved it back down just in time.

Hallie and her date looked up as I stopped at their table.

My gaze locked on the face that had grown more familiar to me than any other. Her eyes rounded with surprise. “Chris.”

Just like that, my irrational anger completely deflated.

My panic did not.

This woman was made for me.

I knew that deep in my bones.

And I’d been so wrapped up in my own problems, I’d taken too long to express that to her.

“Hey,” I forced out.

“What are you doing here?” It might have been my imagination, but Hallie’s gaze kept flickering between me and her date like she was guilty of some wrongdoing.

“I’m here with Darcy.” I thumbed over my shoulder.

Hallie’s gaze darted toward the back of the bar. “Oh.”

“As friends.” I felt the need to add pointedly.

Was that relief in her eyes?

“Um, Chris, this is Derek.” Hallie gestured to the guy across from her.

I gave him a tight smile and held out my hand. After all, it wasn’t his fault I’d screwed up, taking my damn time. “Nice to meet you.”

Derek grinned at me like he knew a secret. He was a good-looking son of a bitch. “Hey, man, nice to meet you.”

I released his hand, feeling a little desperate to make a claim on Hallie, to alert this guy to the fact that he had competition. Leaning down, I pressed a soft kiss to Hallie’s cheek, my lips lingering a half second too long as I inhaled her perfume, a scent that would forever be synonymous with her.

“See you Sunday,” I murmured in her ear before standing up.

I cut her date a quick look.

He smirked at me as if to say, Oh, I hear ya loud and clear.

Good.

Turning on my heel, I strode away, replaying what I’d just done in my head. It was infantile and so unfuckinglike me to act out of jealousy. To be jealous! I was not a jealous guy. What the hell was I doing?

My hands shook a little as I returned to Darcy, who gaped at me like she’d never seen me before.

“You know my wedding planner?”

I shrugged, my gaze drifting back toward Hallie. Derek was leaning across the table, grinning and talking as Hallie covered her face like she was embarrassed about something. Had I embarrassed her? The idea made me itch to go back over there and smooth things over. And also grab her hand and take her away from this guy immediately.

They looked cozy. Comfortable with each other. How long had she been seeing him? Why hadn’t she talked to me about him?

My heart beat faster.

“Chris?”

Darcy’s sharp tone brought my attention back to her and her question. “Uh, we met at your engagement party.”

“And what? You’re friends now?”

“I hired her to plan a retirement party, which I’m no longer doing, so don’t even think about it,” I hurried to say at the way her eyes lit up. “But Hallie and I became good friends. We’ve been spending time together.” My gaze returned to the table.

Hallie laughed at something Derek said.

“Oh.” Darcy’s tone suggested confusion. “Okay. That’s a little strange, but whatever.”

At my silence, she continued, “Did you know Jen McIntyre is working for NASA now?”

“Who’s Jen McIntyre again?” I asked distractedly, eyes still on Hallie and her date.

Darcy’s voice became like ocean waves lapping at shore. I could hear her, but she was just background noise.

“Chris,” she suddenly snapped.

Her tone dragged my gaze off Hallie. At her annoyed expression, I felt the sting of guilt. “Shit. Sorry.”

Her eyes darted across the room. “You seem to be worrying over her. I’m sure she’s fine.” She considered Hallie. “I guess she’s pretty cute and sweet and would easily provoke brotherly protective instincts in a man.”

Really?

“I couldn’t feel less brotherly toward Hallie Goodman. Believe me, that’s not the feeling she provokes.”

Darcy raised an eyebrow as understanding dawned on her face. “My wedding planner? Seriously?” She studied Hallie again, frowning. “She doesn’t seem your type at all.”

Irritated by what her comment insinuated, I asked coolly, “And what do you mean by that?”

She shrugged. “She’s not really . . . well . . . extraordinary. You’re extraordinary, Chris.” Darcy touched my arm, her expression sincere. “And that’s a quality you deserve in your life partner.”

I rebelled at every word out of her mouth. “One: I struggle with this concept that somehow we deserve and/or are entitled to anything.”

“If we work hard enough for something, we certainly are entitled to and deserve it.” Darcy disagreed vehemently.

“Two,” I continued as if she hadn’t spoken because I was goddamn annoyed by her judgment of Hallie. “Hallie Goodman is funny, sweet, compassionate, and the type of beautiful that comes from being extraordinarily kind. If anyone doesn’t deserve someone in this scenario, it’s me.”

Lips parting in shock, Darcy slumped against the booth. “Wow. You really do like her. I’m . . . Chris, I’m sorry. What I said about her was awful and . . . Oh goodness, you know I try not to be my mother, and the snobbery is hard to beat back. Matthias is right! Forgive me.”