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“Cate, darling, I think the gentleman is trying to get your attention,” Athena offers, like I didn’t hear him.
I slowly tear my eyes from the center of our table and glance over to see my ex-boyfriend, Derek, standing there in a crisp white shirt and khakis. Not a single strand of his blonde hair is out of place and his short-clipped beard is perfectly manicured. I have managed to go a couple of months without bumping into him at work and now here he is. In Hawaii. Behind me. While I’m at dinner with the Bennetts.
Who did I piss off in a previous life that this would be my punishment?
“I thought it was you.” Derek flashes a crooked grin. “How are you? You look great.”
I am unable to speak. I honestly don’t even have words coming to mind. My head is empty. I feel the heat boiling up from my feet making its way to my throat.
“Cate, darling? Aren’t you going to introduce us to your friend?” Athena smiles at me warmly, but I am looking at any possible exit to make a quick escape.
“Hi, Derek.” Is all I breathe out.
“Derek?” Theo mutters under his breath.
“You look surprised to see me.” Derek holds his arms open for a hug.
And how dare he?
But I don’t want to cause more of a scene than I already have so I push my chair back from the table and wrap my arms around him.
Oh, Lord, that cologne of his floods me with memories of us together. He smells like scotch and after-shave. I catch myself before I linger and release my hold on him.
“Derek, this is the Bennett family.” I motion around the table.
“Friends of yours?” He smiles at them all and waves lazily.
“We’re here celebrating Caleb and Sarah’s upcoming wedding.”
“Well, that’s great. Congratulations!” He is so charming it disgusts me.
“And how do you know Cate?’ Caleb asks a perfectly normal question that flips my stomach upside down.
“Well, we uh…” Derek winks at me. “We used to date.”
“Oh really?” Caleb doesn’t seem as enthused but remains polite.
I can hear Theo’s breath quicken and glance down at him. His eyes are burning. He doesn’t seem mad. But he does look jealous. Or protective? I can’t tell. My head is spinning.
“Derek, this is Theo.” I rest my hand on Theo’s shoulder and he wraps his fingers around mine. “My boyfriend.”
If Derek is surprised, he doesn’t show it. He smiles and extends his hand to Theo. “Nice to meet you.”
Theo stands up. He is a couple of inches taller than Derek. He shakes Derek’s hand and says, “Likewise.”
I feel like I am standing between two giants. One my past. One my present.
“Hope you’re treating our Cate right.” Derek seems to be sizing Theo up and I know this isn’t going to end well.
“We both know I’ll treat her better than you did.” Theo’s response has my knees buckling. I think I might pass out and make a desperate grab for my glass of water.
Their hands firmly back at their respective sides, Derek scrunches his nose but makes sure to remain as charming as possible in front of the rest of the table.
“Well, it was good to meet you all. Congratulations again,” he directs to Caleb and Sarah. “Cate, it was great seeing you. Maybe we can grab coffee and catch up before I leave in a couple days.”
Am I sweating?I am pretty sure I’m sweating through my dress and fight the urge to snatch every linen napkin to wipe my pits.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I hear Theo come to my rescue as I contemplate every decision I have made in my life to get to this hands-down most embarrassing and awkward encounter.
