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Three chairs around a dinner table set for several courses, a bottle of that buzzy champagne ready to be popped.
I look around. “I feel like something’s missing.”
Nate nods. “You’re right.”
We stare at the table harder, then turn to each other, light bulbs illuminating over our heads at the exact same time. “Music!” we cry out in unison.
Nate waves his hand toward the jazz quartet on stage. “Maestro!”
They begin playing an easy jazz tune, something to exist as an easy backing track for our evening with Laney.
Nate whips out his phone. “They’re here,” he says.
I feel the blood drain from my face.
Doesn’t matter that this night has been planned for an entire week, doesn’t matter that I’ve been preparing for it, what I might say, what I’m wearing. The plan goes totally out the window now that I know Laney is outside.
“I can’t believe this is happening.” I gulp.
“Me either, dude. How’s my hair?”
“Great. Mine?”
“Fine.”
I threaten to smack him on the arm, but Nate jerks away, cackling to himself. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Looks perfect.”
From the entryway of the club, high heels echo.
The Lyons Club is usually loud and booming, almost impossible to talk over. However, it’s just us two and a woozy jazz band right now.
“Hello?” she calls out.
And then she appears in the doorway. An absolute vision.
I can hardly breathe.
The dress she’s wearing is simple. A satin, burgundy number with spaghetti straps. But it highlights all of her curves so perfectly I think I might faint. Her long legs lookeven longer in her nude stilettos. And her blonde hair falls in rivers of gold over her shoulders.
Thank heavens, Nate isn’t as frozen as I am. He rushes up to Laney and greets her, taking her arm in his.
She gasps. “You cut your hair!”
“Yeah, you hate it?”
Laney shakes her head. “No, it suits you. Although I like it either way.”
I take a deep breath. Got to get it together.
As Laney walks toward me with Nate, I am filled with a wash of nostalgia.
This is the very place we met. The first night we kissed. The night I fell in love with her. Because yes, I’ve loved her from that first moment, of that I can be sure.
“Doesn’t she look fantastic, Mason?” Nate bears Laney toward me.
“Better than fantastic.”
Laney smiles, a twitching, sneaking smile. “You boys look nice too.”
