“I was saying, tell us about this Richard Gere guy you’ve snatched up and are engaged to.”
I shake my head, still attempting to clear it from the whiplash of West’s words. “Did I…did I tell you I was engaged?”
Daisy’s gaze drops to her margarita, and she pinches the straw and fidgets with it. “No, Stella told me.” She looks upagain, hurt shining in her blue eyes. “But you should have. How could you not tell me you’re engaged?”
I hurry to tap out a quickI love youtext before flipping my phone over again. “I know, I’m sorry. I was going to. I meant to. Everything just happened so fast. And then…Dottie.”
Daisy’s expression crumples, but now it’s for a different reason—Dottie. She might have been my grandma by blood, but she was like a grandma to all my friends as well. We’re all grieving her. “It’s fine. You’re here now. And this is even better, because now you can tell us all the details in person.”
“And show us.” Stella waggles her brows while she’s got the straw in between her teeth shoved in her margarita, like she’s some kind of handless creature slurping up her drink.
“Yes, c’mon, mama, show us a picture of this silver fox,” Daisy says.
I snort a laugh, the alcohol warming my nerves and easing the tension out of my limbs. “Whoever said he’s a silver fox?”
“You didn’t have to. You said he was a little older, rich, and owned his own finance business. I’m sorry, but you put all that together and my mind goes straight to Richard Gere inPretty Woman.”
“Well, he is a silver fox,” I pause for Stella to release a squeal, swirling my straw around my frozen drink. “He’s got a nice condo in Seattle that has the best school for Charlie close by. And he’s responsible and so good with her.”
Daisy and Stella pick up their margarita glasses and give each other a look as they both take a drink. I glance back and forth at them, my gut pinching. “What? C’mon, what is it?”
Stella lowers her glass and licks her lips. “He sounds amazing, Rosie. Really.”
“But?” I wait for it, lifting my brows and studying my best friend as she gives me a little forced smile. She’s clearly holding something back.
“But…” Daisy begins, and I swivel my attention at her. “Everything you’re saying sounds like this relationship is just…for Charlie.”
I can’t help it; I flinch. “It is for Charlie. And for me. I’m a single mom. I’m never not thinking about Charlie.” I don’t even bother trying to hide the defensiveness in my tone. What does Daisy know? Last I heard, she doesn’t have any kids of her own. How could she possibly understand?
“No one’s saying that. Of course what Charlie needs is important too,” Stella clarifies.
“Hey, girl. I’m not trying to pick apart your relationship—” And then she just stops talking. Maybe because she sees the annoyance taking up residence on my face.
Shoving my glass away, I whip my head over my shoulder to peer at the ocean. The angry waves thundering against the beach battles with the irritation pounding in my chest and out of nowhere, tears build in the corners of my eyes. “Are you sure? Because that’s how it feels.”
Two servers breeze up to our table, interrupting the thick tension in the air. They’re holding out wood boards displaying the best-looking flight of tacos I’ve ever seen. My mouth waters as I get a big whiff of spices and my eyes devour the sizzling meat and tortillas.
After they leave, Stella squeezes my arm. “Hey, if you love him and you want to spend the rest of your life with him, you know we’ll support you.”
If?
Deep down, I do know. But I also know there will always be loyalty to Beck first. He’s the one who stuck around after all.
“It’s true.” Daisy nods and my reservations slowly dissipate.
Maybe mostly because my stomach is already growling and my hunger is growing by the second with the spread sitting before us.
“If you’re happy, we’re happy. And it’s a bonus Charlie likes him.” Stella gives me her best genuine smile, her layers of pink lip gloss disappearing and staining her straw.
I give her a lopsided smile back. It should’ve been expected to have a few awkward moments, and hell, I guess a few disagreements too with how long it’s been since the three of us were together.
She picks up a taco from one of the wood boards, sprinkles a spoonful of pico de gallo across it, and gestures with her chin for me to grab one too.
When I do, she lifts hers and taps it to mine in acheers. Daisy joins in too. It’s unclear what kind of taco I’ve chosen, but when I take a bite and my eyes drift closed, it doesn’t matter because it’s delicious. That will be a later problem. A million different spices call for my attention and my entire body sighs into the stool when I finally open my eyes and chew.
They both watch me before joining in a combined moan. We must be distracting the middle-aged men at the table next to us because they can’t take their eyes off us. One stares mid-sip with his glass bottle pressed to his lips as if he’s frozen in place. I giggle behind my taco, but we ignore them.
“They’re the best, right?” Stella asks.
