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Theresa places a palm on her heaving chest, just above her eye-popping breasts. “What a darling meet cute. These days, most people meet online, so they don’t get to experience an old-fashioned first date like that.”
“Sounds like you’re a romantic.”
“A diehard one.” Theresa sighs as she takes a step forward in the bathroom line. “Well, I used to be, anyway, before finding out my live-in boyfriend of two years was a serial cheater.”
“Oh no. I’m sorry that happened to you.”
“It’s okay. Seeing happy couples like Jonas and Sarah and you and Henn gives me hope true love and romance might actually still be alive and well.”
I can’t help noticing Theresa didn’t mention Josh and Kat as an example of true love. Was that an oversight? Am I reading into that omission? Instantly, my thoughts run wild on me. Has this gorgeous woman had a fling with her handsome, playboy boss at some point . . . and now she’s jealous as fuck of Kat?
T-Rod takes another step forward in the bathroom line, so I follow suit.
No, I can’t imagine T-Rod has a romantic history with Josh. Kat is no shrinking violet, and she’s got a jealous streak a mile wide. Surely, if Kat had smelled even the slightest whiff of romance, or even a simple attraction, between Josh and his longtime assistant, she would have engineered an inglorious and immediate exit for this poor woman. At the very least, Kat would have given me an earful about Josh’s gorgeous assistant during our recent lunch. And yet, I’ve sensed only genuine positivity from Kat whenever T-Rod’s name has come up, whether from Josh or Kat herself.
As we take another step forward in the bathroom line, I say, “Did Jonas’ speech to Sarah at dinner give your inner romantic a bit of hope?”
“Oh my gosh, yes. That was one of the most romantic things I’ve ever witnessed in my life.”
“Wasn’t it? The way Jonas looked at Sarah when he said that thing about their love being the envy of the gods!”
“Gah!” T-Rod sighs deeply. “That’s what I want someday—for someone to look at me like that.”
Henn’s face as he gazed at me in front of the fake Eiffel Tower pops into my head. “Henn looks at me like that,” I confess with a deep blush. “He’s the first guy who’s ever done it, and I must admit it feels incredible.”
“I can only imagine. Hopefully, you look at Henn like that in return?”
“I sure do. Henn’s an incredible person and the best boyfriend, ever. So sweet and funny and loyal.”
Theresa nods. “I overheard him joking around with Jonas before the ceremony. Jonas said he was going to name his firstborn after Henn to thank him for finding Sarah for him, and Henn’s replies to Jonas were so funny and cute. If you’re looking for a diehard romantic, then look no further than Peter Hennessey, right?”
What the fuckity is she talking about? Henn “found” Sarah for Jonas? Huh? What? When was Sarah lost? Whatever Theresa’s talking about, her body language makes clear she thinks I already know about it—which means Josh and Kat must also know about it, along with Jonas and Sarah and Henn, or else T-Rod wouldn’t say boo about it to me.
I feel sick, all of a sudden. Out of the loop and doubtful of Henn—all the same things I felt on karaoke night when everyone but me knew about the million-dollar finder’s fee. Also, worst of all, that everyone at the table was assuming Henn had already told me—his girlfriend—all about it.
I force a smile. “Henn is a great friend, and, yes, a diehard romantic, so it wasn’t surprising to learn he did whatever he could to help Jonas find love.”
“And now look at Jonas and Sarah! Thanks to Henn, they’re husband and wife. Talk about a romantic love story.”
“I’m so happy for them.” Fucking hell. I hate pretending I know what we’re talking about when I don’t, but I’d be mortified to admit Theresa knows more than I do about what my own beloved boyfriend did for Jonas and Sarah. Henn told me he went to Vegas to help Sarah take down her nefarious former employer—but by that time, Sarah was already Jonas’ girlfriend, so whatever Henn did to help Jonas find Sarah in the first place, he had to have done it long before Vegas. Color me confused.
A stall opens up and Theresa waltzes into it, leaving me alone with my thoughts. What the hell did Henn do and when did he do it and why does everyone know about it but me?
Another stall opens up before Theresa emerges from hers, and I head inside as my head continues teeming with questions.
When I leave the bathroom a few minutes later, Theresa is standing outside the entrance. “The emcee called all the single ladies to the dance floor,” she says. “I wasn’t sure if you could hear the announcement in there.” She’s referring to the age-old ritual whereby single women crowd around the bride and elbow each other to catch her bouquet, all in the name of being anointed next in line to get hitched. But since I’m not particularly interested in getting married, not even to Henn, and certainly not any time soon, I reply, “Thank you for looking out for me, but I think I’ll sit this one out. My relationship with Henn is still pretty new. You should do it, though, since you’re single and looking for love.”
