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“Eh, Gabby’s not huge on parties for herself. She might like a small party.”
He wasn’t about to completely dismiss Dane’s idea. It was thoughtful of him to think of Gabby like that.
Dane nodded, his eyes widening a bit. “How small? Where do I do it? Who do I invite? I know nothing about throwing a party. I need help.”
Jaxson took a step back. Nope. No way. He did not like where this conversation was headed.
“Mia would be a great help.”
“I’m not asking Mia.”
“Why the hell not?” He totally would. Maybe.
They hadn’t been on the best of terms lately. Sure, they talked, acted like everything was normal. But since the day she heard how he truly felt about her, things had been awkward between them. It was almost becoming hard to see her anymore as he knew she would keep her distance and barely talk to him. That hurt. It ripped his heart apart a little more each time. He wanted to go back to the way things used to be. When she was at least his friend.
“Because…” Dane shrugged again, an uncommon gesture for him, telling Jaxson just how much this worried him. “Because I’m not. I’d rather you help me.”
“Dude, do I look like someone who knows how to throw a party?”
He showed up to parties. He broke up parties—when he was a beat cop. He even crashed some parties—more so in his college days. But he did not know where to begin to throw a party. Especially one for Gabby. Because she deserved the best kind of spectacular party there was. Small and low key, but spectacular. And how did one go about doing that? He had no clue.
He knew Gabby wanted to secretly throw Dane a party. A chuckle almost slipped out at how alike they were both thinking right now, wanting to throw a party for each other. Honestly, they should have one big party and call it done. Of course, he couldn’t tell either one of them what the other was thinking. What a predicament.
“You look like someone who is Gabriella’s best friend and will know what she’ll like.”
Dane had him there. He did know Gabby well.
“I’ll pay for your drinks at The Corner Bar for a week.”
Jaxson snapped his fingers as a wily smirk emerged. “You should ask Brick. I bet he’d throw a killer party.”
“As Gabriella’s best friend—one of my friends—I’m asking you.”
Oh, man. Dane had to go there. Jaxson couldn’t ignore that. Although they had had a rough start—sort of hated each other—he considered Dane a very good friend now.
Shit. The man texted him during the middle of the day to meet him so he could ask him this silly question in person. Dane coveted his work. He rarely took a break during the day, his mind entirely focused on the task in front of him. Which told Jaxson enough. Dane was worried about a simple party for Gabby’s birthday, and if he didn’t put the man out of his misery—with a resounding yes—he’d likely go insane.
“Okay, fine. I’ll help you throw her a party.”
Dane nodded, almost looking like he was going to step forward to hug him, and stopped. Thank goodness for small favors. Jaxson wasn’t sure how he would’ve responded to that.
“Thank you. You have no idea what this means. I’m so lost. I don’t know the first thing to do. It has to be the best party she’s ever had.”
Of course, it did. It’s not like Jaxson knew what the hell that would be. He hadn’t even thought of an epic gift yet.
“I better get back before Gabby comes looking for me. I told her I had to talk to someone, showing her my phone. I felt bad stretching the truth there.”
Dane had the decency to wince. “Sorry about that. But I appreciate it. I have a lot of work to do anyway. I’ll have supper ready by six if you want to join us.”
Gabby and Dane took turns making meals. On the days Dane had to cook, he left his office early to have everything ready at the set time. One, it helped him not work so much. Two, it kept Gabby from not overstaying as well. While she liked to pretend she wasn’t a workaholic, she was. Just in a different way from Dane, reaching out and helping victims as much as she could.
“I have a party to plan. I’ll pass tonight.”
Gabby’s birthday was a month away, Dane’s only two weeks. He didn’t have much time to prepare. Considering he had no clue where to begin, he needed to get cracking at it.
Maybe he’d even brave calling Mia for help. They were friends. It shouldn’t be odd for him to ask.
“Remember what I said. Drinks on me for a week.”
