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“Too rough for your delicate, dainty soul?” Savannah wiggles her eyebrows before swinging her gaze my way.
Hallie’s greens narrow as daggers emerge. “No, I actually feel bad about breaking the leg of a hotel desk.” Her smirk reflects an ounce of pride. “Although, I did tell him not to tie me to it.” A pang of jealousy hits me that she’s been tied up by him too. But I shouldn’t care, right?
Savannah wears a mischievous look I only usually see when she’s tipsy. “Damn. He seems intense.” Walking over to the desk in our suite, she trails her fingers over the top and looks at me. “I bet you were screaming his name loud and clear––” Her voice grows louder with emphasized drama.
“Enough!” My assertive tone jolts through the room. “Hallie doesn’t needthosememories about him.” I read Savannah’s look that screamsher, or you?
“Chill out, Em.” Hallie laughs, running a hand through her loose curls. I watch closely as she attempts to decipher me. “Why are you being so touchy?”
“It’s my fault,” Savannah chimes in quickly. “I’m just being bitchy and getting humor from her sexual frustration.” Hallie somewhat buys it. “I’m angry about my own breakup and took it out on Emery.” She makes talking about her feelings seem so effortless. “I promise I’ll stop. Tonight is supposed to be fun. Plus, I want to hear the rest of this.”
“There’s not much more to it. Ian and I sort of broke up on the way home from Vegas.” Hallie takes a seat next to me on the bed. “This getaway highlighted a lot. We had planned to finish out the rest of the summer as a couple because we didn’t want Emery focusing on a breakup while grieving her parents.” I try to not show my frustration on my face.
“You two didn’t have to act like parents who wanted to divorce but stayed together for the child.” I know why they didn’t stay together, but this right here is also part of why Ian and I lost our chance.
“Emery, so much happened that summer with you, and then Ian’s dad––” Hallie’s voice cracks as her words rush out. “Ian and I were there for each other on a friend level. You must have picked up on the lack of physical touch we had that summer…” She trails off, her voice full of regret. It was noticeable from their constant kisses and him always resting his hands on her hips, to barely holding hands when we’d walk downtown.
“She only meant well.” Savannah intervenes with the growing tension. “Let's go sightseeing for a bit, and then grab some food.”
We spend the late afternoon walking the strip before magically scoring reservations at the restaurant. My two friends sit with puzzled faces, watching my eyes dance around. Staring at the aisles, I wonder how many times Gordon has walked down them. Just maybe, he’ll appear right now. This menu is amazing, and Vegas is definitely the place to be for any food lover.
“I can’t believe we are actually here!” I clap my hands, unable to control my excitement. “I wish I could meet him.”
“He’s probably the same as any other angry British man who can cook,” Savannah replies flatly, flipping through the menu.
“He is not comparable, Savannie. I would totally hook up with him if I ever had the chance.” I feel a blush hit my cheeks. I need to get a hold of myself.
“Seriously? He looks like an old troll, Emery.” Hallie laughs. “But I’m sure he’d cook you one hell of a breakfast in the morning.”
“Wouldn’t that require her staying the night?” Savannah takes the bait as a Cheshire Cat grin forms.
“Might be difficult to teach dance with a broken leg.” I send her a glare.
“It’s too easy.” She closes her menu. “Like you.” My jaw tightens, feeling hurt settling in. I’m ready to jab my elbow into her side. “That was a bitchy thing to say, sorry.” Her eyes soften as she turns toward me, and I know more is coming. “Emery, you’ve just been so vocal about ignoring feelings.” Savannah places her hand on mine, and I want to pull it away. “Let Hallie and I help you welcome them this time.”We’re in public, and this is supposed to be about me basking in the glory of eating at this restaurant. What the hell is happening?
“Maybe I’ll just take a plane back to Aspen from here.”
“Hey, if anger is the emotion you can conjure, I’ll take it.” Has she been given training from Ian to not fear hurting my feelings? I can’t have too many people in on this.
“Just leave her be.” Hallie comes to the rescue.
“Look, we have all been through stuff. But we can heal and move on because we deal with it, Emery.” Savannah continues on with her point, but I can’t handle this right now.
“Just let me enjoy this restaurant,” I tell her, expressionless. An intervention is not needed. Especially not right now.
Hallie leans in closer, reaching her hands out to me. “You can talk to us about anything, okay?”
“Savannah thinks I should stop my heart from being closed off with Ian. She wants me to basically get destroyed again.” Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Savannah nod. “I am perfectly happy with my life right now. I want to have a fun girls’ night with rom-coms and junk food like our old times.”
“As your friend, I would prefer you to quit sleeping around as well.” Hallie shrugs, ignoring my statement. I glance around for the waiter. “I might not be as blunt about it, but you could get physically hurt in the process. Remember the other night at the bar? What if Ian hadn’t stepped in?”
“Then testifying in court would be even more crappy.” I still have to deal with the legalities of that. “I can take care of myself.”
“Lately, it seems like you and Ian were getting along,” Hallie chimes in. “At the wedding, you two were smiling.”
“We managed to get along.” I finally make eye contact with a waiter, my foot tapping under the table.
“Ian was supposed to bring you back from Aspen.” Hallie’s green eyes become teary. “This wasn’t how things were supposed to play out.”
