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When we arriveat the expansive Tampa mansion, we are immediately directed upstairs by Darren’s sweet mother, who’s in town for her son’s thirtieth birthday. She was very excited to see Eli. Darren was Penn State’s starting catcher when Eli was there, and they’ve always been really close. Now he lives full time in Tampa, playing for the Rays.
Darren and his wife arranged for two of their trusted sitters to watch over all the kids during the party. Giving the girls up to be watched by someone else tonight feels extremely weird, but Eli insisted I join him as his plus one.
“I think that’s everything. Just text me and one of us will be right up if you need anything at all,” I tell Julie, the sitter who greeted us.
“Okay, awesome. Your girls will be fine… you guys go enjoy yourselves.” The pang in my chest at her innocent remark is eased when Eli grabs my hand and waves goodbye to Addy and Sophie one more time.
Your girls. They sure feel that way… I struggle with leaving them there with people we don’t really know. A strange mix of worry and guilt consumes me.
“They’ll be fine, Q. We are right downstairs,” Eli says, rubbing his thumb over my hand intertwined in his.
I nod and smile. “I know, I know.”
“I’m going to use the ladies' room,” I say, stopping as we come to the bottom of the steps. “You go ahead, and get us a drink… I’ll meet you on the terrace.”
“A Ranch Water or anything with tequila, correct?”
“You know it.” I wink.
Eli narrows his eyes at me. “Q, don’t go back upstairs and harass the sitters… not yet, at least.”
Dammit,how did he know I was going to sneak back up there?
“Me? Never… I’ll give it thirty minutes until I do that.” I smile, and he does the same, shaking his head as I walk into the bathroom.
A few minutes later, I make my way out onto the terrace. I easily spot Eli, who’s empty-handed, appearing to have been intercepted before he made it to the bar.
My insides twist when I see Eli throw his head back in laughter before wrapping a petite blonde up into a hug.
When he pulls back from their embrace, it gives me a full view of her beautiful,familiarface.
It’sTHE blonde.
The one from the tunnel all those years ago. The same one I saw looking at him adoringly, like she is tonight. The view that sent me into a spiral when the reality hit me… that I was more than likely so deeply in love with my best friend, I needed to do everything in my power to fight those feelings or I would end up broken and friendless.
Which ended up happening anyway at the hands of a totally different blonde.
Anger I thought I had finally gotten rid of starts to bleed into my system the longer I watch them.
Eli must feel my gaze on them. He looks up and furrows his brows, probably at the expression he sees on my own face. The loving look in his eyes draws me to him as he waves me over, even when I want to protest.
As I approach, I see blondie grab her chest. Gasping, she says, “Easy wasn’t lying… youarethe most beautiful woman here.”
Her kind southern accent and sweet words ease the tension slightly, but his college nickname on her tongue pisses me off. Did he fuck her back then? Has he fucked her here in Florida?
Why am I this way? I feel like I’m going to be sick at the thought.
“The most beautiful woman inanyroom,” Eli corrects her. Reading the apprehension on my face, he pulls me into a reassuring embrace.
“Quinn, meet Katie… Darren’s wife.”
Welp, didn’t see that coming.
“Hi, Katie, thanks for having us. Your home is gorgeous.” I hold my hand out to shake hers, hoping she doesn’t think I’m a cold-hearted bitch from my initial greeting. “And thank you so much for providing sitters for everyone, smart mama.”
Katie pulls me into a hug. “Sorry, girlfriend... I’m a hugger.”You don’t say… your damn hugs have caused me some shit over the years. “I’m so happy to finally meet you. I’ve literally been hearing about you since our Penn State days when I first started dating Darren. He always called you Eli’s way cooler other-half.”
