with you, held you when you cried, and now that I know how you feel about parties, I have a sneaking suspicion you were behind my birthday dinner at Summer House with Vi and our friends. The motorcycle cake? Cookies frosted to look like artist palettes? Chocolate sculpting tools? Black balloons that said LET’S RIDE? It all makes sense now. I thought it was Gavin who set that up.”
“I didn’t want you to know,” she said softly, remembering the nights last fall when she’d pulled it all together. “Now it seems silly to have kept it a secret.”
“Not silly, babe. You were in denial, but I wasn’t. Don’t you see, Chloe? All of that makes a solid foundation for what will be a great relationship.”
She felt a little giddy, which wasn’t like her at all. But how could she not be? She knew he was right. “Okay, Mr. Wicked. You’ve got me. You’re pretty amazing, and I must have been walking around with blinders on, because before the night you came over to finish our dance, I thought you were just playing with me.”
“I was, but I’ve always been playing for keeps with you, Chloe. If I’d known that you’d missed out on birthday parties and anything else when you were younger, I’d have been doing things like this for you the whole time I’ve known you, even if you refused to go out with me.”
He paused, as if he wanted his words to sink in, and they sure did.
“I’m going to take these guys and get out of here so you can have your girls’ night.” He kissed her cheek and said, “Go put your toes in the sand, beautiful. I’ll see you tomorrow night for our date.”
A COUPLE OF hours and many laughs later, the rain had stopped, Chloe had taken far too many pictures, and Gracie was fast asleep on a blanket, holding her monkey. Chloe and the girls cleaned up the leftovers and reassembled her living room. As they carried the dining room table inside, her mind drifted back to Justin, as it had been doing all night. When she’d first seen him on the porch, she’d thought he’d come to crash the meeting, to flirt and make light of their group as he’d done in the past. She was so thankful that in all the time they’d known each other, he hadn’t given up on her. That really told her who he was. She was still thinking about his confession that he hadn’t fooled around with anyone else since they’d met. Then again, he was the man she’d compared all other men to. Even over dinner or drinks, none of them had been able to hold a candle to him. Could it really have been the same for him?
“What is that goofy smile for?” Gabe asked as the girls began gathering their things.
“Nothing,” Chloe said, but she heard a dreaminess in her voice.
“He’s a good egg, Chloe,” Gabe reassured her. “I’ve known Justin for a long time. Everything he does comes from his heart.”
“Or his long dong,” Daphne said in a hushed whisper. Her cheeks flamed, and giggles burst from her lips. She slapped her hand over her mouth, and everyone laughed.
“I can’t even tell her not to say that about my brother. Look at her!” Madigan said. “She’s so embarrassed even her ears are red.”
“Do I want to know how Daphne knows that about Justin?” Starr asked.
“I don’t know it!” Daphne insisted. “Our friend Emery saw him naked. It’s a long story, and she didn’t sleep with him, but she swears it’s true.”
Everyone looked at Chloe expectantly. She couldn’t help but make a joke. “It is a long story.”
They all cracked up.
“On that note, I’m heading out. Come on, Marly, before they get you talking about my brothers’ body parts.” Madigan hugged Chloe and said, “This has been the funnest night I’ve had in a long time. Thank you for inviting me.”
“I’m so glad everyone came. I’ll walk you out,” Chloe said as Starr came into the living room carrying Gracie, fast asleep on her shoulder. “Starr, I’ll get your bag and umbrella.”
“Do you know whose turn it is to choose the next book?” Marly asked as she and the others grabbed their jackets.
“Not yet. Tomorrow morning I’ll pull the list of members and use a random number generator to select the member who gets to choose. I’ll announce it on the forum.” Chloe followed them out to their cars.