Page 63 of Gin and Bear It

“Kennie.” I shoot her a look right back.

She glances at Ash behind me and sips her wine again.

“Tell me about the proposal again,” one of her friends I vaguely recognize says to Danika over the chatter. “I’m so sad I missed your livestream right after. The internet connection at the resort was abysmal. The only upside was that I could record hella b-roll while I withered away without internet.”

Ah, her influencer friend. That’s where I recognize her from—making TikToks where she decides to do a full face of makeup and a wig install even though her flight is leaving in forty-five minutes across town. How many flights has she missed in the past year? Or is it all rage-bait?

“Well.” Danika straightens up. She’s completely in her element, being the center of attention like this. “I’d made a nail appointment…”

I zone out as she goes into elaborate detail about the proposal, mostly what she was wearing, what designer Scott was wearing, and where she was. But not what he said or anything special about it.

It sounds so vapid that I almost feel sorry for her. What do they do when they’re together? How do they connect with each other?

Ash and I aren’t even dating and I could say more about how we are together than Danika. Turns out living with someone and sharing a bed helps you get to know them. I’ve seen his sleepy morning face basically every day and know he hates talking before coffee like I do. He loves snarking on the frustrating parts of my games and snuggling with Pip while he’s on his laptop, even if he won’t admit it that he’s the one who started it.

I want to know more about him, even though that’s not the plan.

The conversation gets even more boring, so I zone out completely and try to listen to what Ash is talking about. He’s mmhm-ing along with some talk about markets. God, I’d lie down under the table in boredom.

“Jada over here got married recently,” Danika says. The little sneer in her voice snaps me out of it. “Kind of sudden, too.”

“Not so sudden if you knew us.” I plaster on a smile.

“No, it’s still sudden.” Danika gives me a smile with the same energy. “Wasn’t it, Kendra?”

“Sudden isn’t the right word,” Kendra says carefully. “It was more of a surprise. When I see them together, it makes sense.”

“So you weren’t shocked at all that Jada went from chronically, miserably single to married in like ten seconds?” Danika’s voice has a laugh in it.

“Well, damn, I wasn’t miserable,” I say. “And I wasn’t chronically single. I was in a relationship for a while.”

“But you were single for a big chunk of time.” Danika attempts to furrow her brow. “Like, very single.”

“Just like y’all were chronically on and off?” I shoot back.

Danika blinks, like she wasn’t expecting me to call her out. That fruit is so low hanging, it’s basically on the ground. To be fair, they did the on-and-off thing more before they had their kid, but I couldn’t just let her attack me like that.

Kendra gently taps my foot with hers, her signal to dial it back. But Danika’s pissed me off. I was minding my own business and I showed up to this stupid bridal shower or whatever it is, which seems to be a victory lap for her finally proposing to her fuckhead boyfriend.

The least she can do is butt out of it. She has her PI to invade my space.

“We’re engaged,” Danika says, putting her hand on her chest to show off her ring. “We’re forever. Who’s to say that’s true for you? What’s happening when no one’s looking? It would be great to know.”

Danika has the subtlety of a dump truck, so of course she’s referring to the PI creeping on us. Invading our space, even if she’s technically right about the marriage being fake.

Kendra must sense that I’m just revving up again because she fully steps on my foot with her heel.

Thankfully the waiters bring out the first course and everyone starts eating. But I’m still fuming as I shove salad into my mouth.

Okay, I wasn’t happy that I was single, but I wasn’t close to miserable until I found out about the will. Then, it was more about me losing the hotel to Danika than it was about love (as much as I want that).

The more irritating part is that she’s right about one thing—Ash and I aren’t forever. We’re only together for a year. Even if he were into me beyond what I’m assuming was instinctual protectiveness, how would that work? We’d be married, but dating? What if we broke up later?

I put on an unbothered face the rest of the meal and talk to Kendra and one of Danika’s few nice friends. It’s hard to maintain when I’m this pissed off.

“I’m going to the bathroom and going home.” Kendra pulls out her phone and shoots off a text. “I’m not old, but I’m too old for this shit.”

I snort and pull her in for a hug. “Thank you for coming. I would have lost it on Danika if you hadn’t stomped on my foot.”