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Smiling, Kate leaned close. “It’s ginger ale. I can’t drink. I’m passing these out to several guests. You aren’t the only one who needs to forgo alcohol, you know.” She patted my back as she handed the fluteover.
I sighed with relief. “Thank you,Kate.”
With that handled, I truly relaxed. I’d feared the toast was going to be the biggest problem, and in an instant, the problem was solved. When the time came, I raised my glass to my friends. I sipped my ginger ale. And I kissed my girl. When I pulled back, I realized she was positively glowing, she seemed so full of energy. We’d already danced. We’d eatencake.
“You ready to go?” she asked as she rubbed myback.
I nodded. “I really am. I don’t know why I’m sosleepy.”
Talia stood and nodded. “You’re mentally drained. It’s a lot of work being around all these people without your usual coping mechanisms.” She held out a hand to me. “Let’s go say our goodbyes to your friends, then we’ll go upstairs andtalk.”
I stood and sighed. Talks, in my experience, were never good. Still, I pasted a smile on my face as we wandered over to the head table where my friends were still devouring more cake. “I’m sorry to be the party pooper, but I’m worn out,” I murmured to Harry andLaney.
Harry stood. “I’m so glad you came. I really enjoyedit.”
I thought about what he’d said when he came to visit me. “You mean it? This was fun foryou?”
“Aside from the obvious, yes.” He laughed. “You were so witty and charming. I remembered all over again why I’d liked you so much growing up. Now, we have the rest of our lives to create some amazingmemories.”
I gnawed on my cheek while I formulated my next question. “Are you planning on staying here, inVegas?”
Laney reached over and grabbed Harry’s hand. Before he even answered, I knew they had settled down here. “Yes,” he admitted. “We have an original show we’ve written and produced. You should come seeit.”
I reached out to shake his hand. “I will.” Then I glanced at Talia beside me. “Wewill.” She leaned against me and I felt all the tension in me meltingaway.
Then I turned to Ty and Kate, who’d already stood in anticipation of our departure. “Drew, I had a wonderful time with you tonight. Next time, we’ll keep the gathering smaller and more intimate.” He wrapped an arm around Kate. “And before you ask, we’re staying too. We have a home here. We own a hotel here.” He shrugged. “I’m even thinking of selling my L.A.home.”
“I told him he’s crazy. He should rent it out and let it pay for itself.” Kate sighed. “Real estate in L.A.? It’s a smartinvestment.”
“You’re so right,” Talia agreed excitedly. Her eyes lit up when she was talking real estate withKate.
“Shall we?” I asked, half hating that I was interrupting thefun.
“Definitely.” Then she smiled at my friends, who were already her friends too. “We’ll see you tomorrow. Care to join us forbrunch?”
“Eleven. I’ll reserve some tables for us.” Katebeamed.
Ty laughed. “She gets very excited about foodlately.”
Kate laid a hand on Talia’s forearm. “Six weeks of morning sickness. I’m thrilled anything staysdown.”
After a laugh and a series of hugs, we exited the reception. “Now what?” I asked as we stood waiting on theelevator.
“Now we talk,” shemurmured.
Instantly, my spiritssank.
14
Talia
“Stop pouting.”I sighed as we stepped off the elevator onto our floor. Drew hadn’t uttered a word since we left thereception.
“I’m not pouting. I’m…being introspective.” His chin jutted outdefensively.
I shook my head. “Not all talks are bad. This oneisn’t.”
“It isn’t?” Drew eyed me suspiciously as he opened thedoor.
