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“He’s good. Good ‘ol Denver.” I nodded. “He’s so good.”
“That’s awesome. I’m really happy for you two.” She did not look happy, but boy was she trying to sell it. “He’s such an amazing guy. I’m sorry it was so awkward the first time I saw you together. I was just surprised, because he never really got along with you. And then after he and I broke up, suddenly you two were getting along. It was wrong of me to assume it had something to do with me.”
I stared at her, trying to follow the thread of her explanation. She was referring to her ‘everything makes sense now’ comment. She thought Denver pursued me as an in-your-face kind of thing. What a horrible thing to say, except it was exactly what I’d accused him of doing with Makayla after things didn’t work out with Jenny.
“It’s all good,” I said, nodding as I stood. I needed a minute. I needed a lot of minutes. “I’ll be right back. I’m gonna go see where Jenny’s hiding.”
I walked down the hallway. The bathroom was empty, and so were the bedrooms. Jenny was probably in the kitchen, but I didn’t head that way, I just leaned against the wall and breathed in and out. I didn’t believe for one minute that Denver’s feelings for me were in any way a ploy to get back at Makayla for dumping him, but I could see where she got that idea. The two of us were so different—in style, in personality, in a lot of things.
Jenny ducked into the hallway and spotted me brooding. “There you are. Makayla said you were looking for me.”
“I was. Sort of.”
“You were hiding from her. I totally get it. But come into the kitchen with me. Let’s try all the good stuff before everyone else gets here.”
That sounded like the best plan ever. I followed her into the kitchen and stopped to take it all in. There was a balloon arch over the refreshment table and silver platters of different heights filled with all sorts of things way too pretty to eat. Jenny’s mom might be something of a Momzilla, but she did pull off a beautiful shower.
“This is gorgeous.”
“Thanks.” Jenny stole a star cookie off a platter and ate it whole before brushing the crumbs off her lips. “I have to admit, part of me can’t wait for this all to be over with, which is a terrible thing to say when someone throws you a party and everyone brings you gifts.”
“You know if anyone gets it, I do.” I took a star cookie off the opposite end. For balance, of course. It tasted as good as it looked.
Jenny studied me. “How is it going with Denver?”
I sighed. “We’re taking things slow, but yeah, it’s going really well.”
“Why do you look sad about that?”
“I don’t know.”
Jenny put her hands on her hips. “Because happiness scares you?”
“Happiness does not scare me.” I tried to look offended, but Jenny just raised an eyebrow and stared me down. Despite being almost a foot shorter and dressed like a glowing bride-to-be in a lavender ruffle dress, she could be very intimidating when she wanted to be.
“Don’t look at me like that. I love happiness. How can I not when I have you around? I’m over the moon happy for you and Noah. Don’t forget, I was the one who saw it coming from a mile away while you were still refusing to talk to him.”
“You’re deflecting.”
She was absolutely right. But I didn’t have to worry about that because we were suddenly flooded with hungry guests coming in to get food, and Jenny had to go around greeting everyone and thanking them for coming. I went to squeeze out and almost ran into a blonde woman’s baby bump.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.”
She grinned. “No worries. Considering how much he kicks me, I think this one’s pretty tough. I’m Lauren, Jenny’s old roommate. Are you Sadie?”
“Yeah.” I glanced down at my jeans and plain T-shirt. “How’d you know?”
“You’re as tall as I am, for one.” She leaned in. “Do you happen to know who the girl in the orange jumper is? Jenny’s aunt accidentally stepped on her foot with her stiletto heel. She claims she’s fine, but she looks like she’s ready to bail. Poor thing.”
“That’s Makayla.”
Lauren’s eyes widened. “That’sMakayla?”
“Yeah. I’ll go see if she’s okay.”
Lauren glanced back towards the living room like she was tempted to follow me, but then her eyes turned longingly towards the refreshment table. “I really need food, but the chance to meet you two is like suddenly having all the missing pages to a great book I’ve been reading. The ones with illustrations. I know that’s a rosy-colored way of saying Jenny’s been sharing all the good gossip with me, but I don’t think that’s a secret.”
I laughed. “No it’s not. Don’t worry. I’ll save you a seat. Feed him.”
