duck my head and let her drape it over my shoulders.
“Now you’re official!” she says with a smile.
“Not yet! Let’s get you a drink!” Stephanie says, dragging me over to the group lingering in the kitchen.
I’m not close with anyone here except Stephanie, but I’ve met a few of them over the years. Even still, we reintroduce ourselves. Isabella works with Stephanie at her mom’s interior design firm. Cadence moved in with Stephanie last year. Then there’s Dante, who proudly proclaims himself to be Stephanie’s bridesman.
“I feel bad for whoever is going to be standing next to me at the altar because I am going to look fierce,” he says with a wink, and we all laugh.
But it’s honestly the truth. With his curly brown hair and square-cut jaw, he’s extremely handsome.
I glance back to see Aiden talking to Elliot and another guy. Their conversation is hard to pick up, but I catch Elliot asking Aiden a question.
“Is Texas Monthly where you’ll stay then?” he asks. “Have you thought of moving to L.A. or New York? Trying for one of the big publications?”
I don’t hear Aiden’s reply to that because I’m tugged aside by Dante so he can make me a drink.
“You two talk. I’m going to make sure the rooms are sorted,” Stephanie says, scurrying away.
“Oh, okay.” I follow her departure with my eyes, unable to wipe the smile off my face.
“Okay spill. Tell me everything,” Dante says, leaning toward me.
I laugh. “What do you mean? About myself? Umm…well, I live in Austin, and I work at an advertising agency—”
“Boo,” he interrupts. “No offense, but I don’t want to hear about work. Blah. How long have you and your boyfriend been together?”
He picks up a slice of grapefruit and squeezes it into a glass, carefully cupping his hand around it so juice doesn’t spray onto the counter.
It takes me a second to realize he’s talking about Aiden. I look back to see him still talking to some of the guys, and the girls have joined them now too.
I can’t remember Aiden’s lie from the other night. How long did he say we’d been dating? I decide to be vague just so I don’t get us in trouble.
“Not long,” I supply, watching him make my cocktail.
“Is it serious?”
“Oh, umm…yes?” Then I backtrack. “Though he might tell you something different.”
“Ah, men. So difficult to pin down. I’ve been with my partner for nine years now, and if you ask him, he’d say we’re still getting to know each other.” He rolls his eyes. “Come on, let’s go make him jealous,” Dante says, handing me my drink then curving around the island so he can take my hand in his.
He leads me over to the group of people and Aiden watches our approach, his attention pinned on Dante’s hand on mine.
“Aiden, mind if I steal your girlfriend for a few minutes? I want to show her the view of the mountains before the sun completely sets.”
“Why don’t we all go?” Cadence suggests with a smile. “Yes, c’mon. Everyone get a drink and let’s go outside!”
Dante winks down at me and whispers, “Well, I tried. Don’t worry, we’ll get him to commit by the end of the week.”
Then he rushes off ahead with Cadence, and I wait for Aiden to catch up with me.
“Is that one of Elliot’s friends?” he asks, jutting his chin toward Dante.
“I think he’s closer to Stephanie.”
He nods and I can tell he wants me to elaborate, but instead, I conceal a smile.
“Want a sip of my drink? Dante made it.”
Aiden grabs it, downing a hefty swallow.
“Let’s hurry,” I say. “I want to see this sunset everyone’s talking about.”
Outside the main living area, there’s a sprawling pool deck with several sitting areas, a few loungers, and a fire pit. Native plants and shrubs rim the perimeter of the space, and beyond that, desert sand and dirt stretch all the way to the horizon, where a mountain range steals the last rays of the sun.
The sky looks filtered, as if someone splashed it with pink and yellow and orange paint.
It’s breathtaking, and it seems to have made our long drive worth it.
“See?” I say, glancing up at Aiden. “Maybe this week won’t be so bad.”
Aiden and I have to sleep in the same bed. There’s no getting around it. After drinks and dinner, Stephanie shows us to our bungalow.
“I secretly gave you guys the best one. It’s totally secluded compared to some of the others, so you don’t have to