What She Found - Emerald O'Brien Page 0,1

realize what he’s trying to do—or worse—think I need his help finding another man? Or maybe he sees right through me and knows I’m lonely. Knows it well because he is too. Losing Bonnie was hardest on him.

Cassy leans over from my other side and whispers, “He’s cute, right?”

I shrug and give her a small smile as she sits back, her lilac perfume still lingering, calming me. She’s worn the same one since college, and I can’t smell a lilac bush without thinking about her.

Matt pushes himself away from the table, and the wooden chair shrieks across the hardwood floor over the music. Cassy stares down at her cards until he steps away, and then her eyes are trained on him, following each step he takes toward the live-edge countertop.

He picks up one of the many bottles of liquor Arland and Liz provided for the group. Cassy rubs her fingers against her thin lips, considering something before turning away, focusing on her cards again.

Arland clears his throat and taps the table. “Anybody else like another one?” He never has to raise his voice; it can be heard over a large crowd—and turn one silent with one word, too.

Connor deals the remaining cards and glances at his empty pint glass. “I’ll have whatever you’re having.”

“No, thanks,” Cassy mumbles, picking at her short nails.

Arland stares at Wesley until he lifts his head.

His light green eyes fix on Arland. “Uh, I don’t drink.” His voice is smooth and calm, and as he turns to me, I glance away.

He told us he didn’t drink for the first time when we arrived at our wine-tasting tour. I’d have thought it strange he came for our group’s annual winery weekend but for the fact that, once Connor arrived, he announced he’d invited a friend to come along this time, and no one else seemed surprised. For a moment, I thought it might be someone for him. That he might finally be moving on, until he scrolled through his phone and produced a picture of my blind date, and a surge of embarrassment rushed through me as I stared at a man in blue coveralls with dark hair, light eyes, and a wicked smile that spelled trouble. Why Connor thought a man like that would be interested in me, I can’t understand, except maybe Wesley is doing this as a favor for him. Maybe he owes him, and Connor—classic Connor—called in the favor for someone else.

Come be the rebound my friend desperately needs.

Except Connor should know better than any of them that I don’t want to meet anyone new right now. Maybe not ever.

Wesley scratches the back of his neck, unintentionally showing off his triceps as Arland stares at him, and I can’t help but wish they were wrapped around me.

“Ah, that’s right.” Arland sidesteps away from the table, rolling up the sleeves of his dress shirt. “I forgot you don’t drink. Liz?”

She turns her cheek and shoots me a look directly across the table before picking up her cards and rolling her tongue across her perfect white teeth.

“Liz?” he asks again and rests his hands on her angular shoulders. “Can I get you anything, Chou Chou?”

Wesley frowns, and we catch each other’s grimaces. I press my lips together to stifle a laugh and cover my mouth with my hand as I look away in embarrassment. Laughing would have been nice, but feeling this tiny moment of connection with Wesley is better than the soft buzz my wine has provided me all day.

Liz remains still and rigid, her dark, blunt bob sitting perfectly on her shoulders and her toned arms folded in front of her. Arland stares across at our side of the table and shrugs. We make eye contact; I look away. He’ll get no sympathy from me. He sighs and joins Matt at the counter, towering over him.

Has he really not apologized yet? The tension between them adds to the nausea I’ve been trying to keep at bay since I left this morning.

No. Since before Derek…

“Nice bar, man,” Matt says to Arland, looking up at him to meet his gaze. “What’d this set ya back?”

“Only the best for my friends,” Arland says, avoiding the question.

“I saw that!” Cassy hisses and swivels her whole body toward the counter. I turn, anxious to see what she caught him doing. “Matt, come on. That’s enough.”

Matt smirks at Arland as they set their dripping shot glasses on the counter, and Arland winks at him.

“Give him a break, Cassy,” Connor