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When we got back into the car, he turned to me. “You good?”
“Yeah.” I forced a smile.
Gavin examined my face for a few seconds. I knew he could tell I was lying.
He started the engine and took off toward Marni’s house.
I snuck in a text to my friend while his attention was on the road.Raven: Long story but Gavin is coming with me. He just wants to say hello.
Marni: ?????!!!!!
Raven: It’s nothing like that. We were talking and I told him I was coming here. He wants to say hi. That’s all.
Marni: !!!!!!!!!!I had the jitters as we pulled up to Marni’s. This whole thing made me uncomfortable, although I could understand Gavin’s wanting to see her. They’d become pretty good friends in their own right that summer, and my leaving him so abruptly had meant the end of the friendship they’d developed as well.
Marni opened the gate before we even had a chance to fully exit the car.
“Oh my God. Rich Boy!” She rushed over to us and pulled Gavin into a hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
“Holy shit. I didn’t expect to tear up,” she said, wiping her eyes.
Gavin pulled back to look at her face, then brought her into another hug. “You missed me that much?”
She wiped her eyes again. “I guess I did.”
“It’s so good to see you, Marni. You look exactly the same.”
“You look even better, you jackass.”
We all got a good laugh at that.
When Marni glanced over at me, I just knew. She was crying for me. Because she loved me and knew how hard this whole thing had been.
“I hope you’re staying,” she said to him.
Gavin turned to me. “I wasn’t planning to.”
“Stay,” Marni insisted. “We have a lot of food, and you have to meet my daughter.”
I knew he was looking for my approval since he’d invited himself over here.
“You should stay,” I finally said.
“I’d love to.”
“It’s settled, then,” Marni said as she took the wine from him and grabbed me by the arm. “Help yourself to some booze or munchies, Gav. I’m gonna steal Raven to come help me inside for a sec.”
“Are you sure I can’t help, too?” he asked.
“No. Just chill out in the yard.”
“Okay.”
She dragged me into the kitchen. Jenny was mixing alcohol, juice, and fruit in a giant punch bowl.
“Hey, Raven.”
“Hi, Jenny.”
Marni looked over her shoulder to make sure Gavin hadn’t followed us in. “I’m so sorry I lost it like that. It’s just...seeing you with him after all this time… It got to me.”
And now it was getting to me. God, please don’t let me tear up right now.
“I know it did.”
“He looks really good.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t I know that, too.”
“It makes me so mad.”
I gave her a warning look.
“I promise I’ll be good,” she said.
“You’d better.”
“Let me go get Julia. She has to wake up, or she’ll never sleep tonight.”
While Marni went to get her daughter, I helped Jenny carry some red Solo cups and other items outside. They’d set up a bunch of outdoor lanterns and white Christmas lights, which would surely look stunning once darkness fell.
Gavin stood talking to one of Marni’s neighbors. He had a beer in one hand and a small plate with a rolled-up napkin in the other.
When he spotted me, his mouth curved into a smile. It reminded me of the way his face always used to light up when he saw me. He excused himself and walked over to me.
“Can I make you a drink?” he asked.
I held my hand out. “No. I’m good for now.”
He leaned in and spoke directly into my ear. “Are you really okay with me being here?”
Desire washed over me. “I really am, yes.”
“Okay. Just checking.”
I ended up letting him grab me a glass of that spiked punch after all, to take the edge off.
Gavin and I made small talk for the next several minutes. He told me more about how he came to start his company. That somehow led into a conversation about investments. He gave me sound advice about my retirement fund. I also mentioned that I wanted to sell Mom’s house and move into a condo. My only hesitation was the sentimental aspect of letting go. He suggested I rent it out and try to make a profit, which was definitely something to consider.
Then our attention turned to Marni as she entered the yard holding a groggy-eyed baby Julia, who was sucking on her fist.
“Look who woke up,” I cooed.
Marni brought her daughter right over to us. “Gavin, this is my baby girl, Julia.”
He handed me his beer and took Julia in his arms. Watching him hold her was equally as beautiful as it was painful. I would say my ovaries exploded, but it was more like they shriveled up and died. Gavin would be a wonderful dad someday.
