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I sat, smiling at him, but my smile dropped when the same redhead from earlier started whispering with her friend again. I felt like pulling out my hair.Why are they being so mean?! It’s not like I stole her boyfriend or something.
For a moment, I felt a pang of self-doubt. Maybe they were right. Maybe I wasn't good enough for him. But then I felt Jack's hand on mine, squeezing it gently, and I knew that he didn't care about any of that. He liked me for who I was, not for what I looked like or what I could offer him.
We sat down to eat, and Jack introduced me to a final couple who I had noticed walking to our table when I had returned from the hallway, Ben and Christine Dwayne. Christine was a beautiful woman, dressed in a stunning black cocktail dress, and I felt a pang of envy as I looked at her. She was everything I wasn't: confident, beautiful, and poised.
But then she spoke to me, and all of that envy vanished. She complimented me on my dress, telling me how beautiful I looked, and I felt a warmth spreading through me. I was comfortable around her and she spoke to me like I was a human being, not like the other women at the party who had whispered behind my back. With the way we spoke, she saw me for who I was, not for what I looked like, and that made me feel so special.
All through dinner, I felt Jack's hand on my thigh, rubbing it gently, and I knew that he was proud to have me by his side.
Jack’s assistant sidled up to our side midway through the second course, and Jack had to slip out to answer an urgent call. I wasn’t bothered though, because I was having a blast with Christine. She ran a high-class boutique very close to the hotel, and she asked me to come over sometime to get a full closet overhaul anytime I wanted.
I agreed and was digging into a delicious chocolate soufflé when Jack returned without his assistant.
“I have one sealed deal already,” he whispered as he took his seat beside me, beaming.
I gave him an encouraging smile. “That’s wonderful. Who…”
“Excuse me, Mr. Monroe?” We were suddenly interrupted by a deep voice: Ben Dwayne.
Jack excused himself and I waved him off. He turned to Ben, and soon they walked off to somewhere quieter so they could talk. When they returned, Jack was beaming yet again.
“Make that two deals. Looks like you’re my lucky charm, after all.”
I smiled, rolling my eyes. Jack gave me a peck on the cheek as he settled into his seat, and when I glanced at Christine Dwayne, she winked at me and placed a hand on her lips.
Lucky indeed,I thought, as Jack’s arm settled around my shoulders.
Chapter 24
Jack
Asspringturnedbrighterand hotter into summer, Maya, Eli, and I settled into a routine.
Since Maya and I were both working so much, we carved out weekends to all spend together. We’d switch off with dinner and game nights at either mine or Maya’s house. They were full of laughter and bickering as I learned that both Maya and Eli–and maybe myself–were fiercely competitive.
We’d spend lazy days at my pool or sometimes go to the lake and take out the jet skis that had once felt like a foolish purchase.
Maya and I were trying to take things slowly and build a solid foundation for our relationship. The last thing we wanted to do was jump headfirst and have it not work out and crush Eli.
So even by August, we had no talks about moving in together or taking things to another level. For the most part, our arrangement was working.
We also both started seeing Catherine a couple of times a month. Finding out that Catherine knew us both so well made the conversations easy. We all knew we were committed to figuring our unique situation out.
Maya and I still had our ups and downs and were both as hot-headed as ever. But Catherine taught us how to take a minute and give each other space to cool down before we said anything hurtful. Those "minutes" really saved the day, many times.
It felt like we were really building something real. Something that would last.
And as I watched Eli setting up the evening’s board game in my living room while Maya got snacks from the kitchen, everything felt really comfortable and purposeful. This is what my life was supposed to look like.
Maya brought the cheese and crackers, while I got the drinks and we sat around the coffee table and started the game.
Eli was already trash-talking us like a pro. Maya and I were laughing, and when she swept her hair over her shoulder, I held my breath, feeling my body stir. Maya looked up at me from under her lashes, clearly noticing my discomfort, and I felt a sudden urge to reach across the table and take her hand.
I did it before I could think again, and then I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I was reading the signals right, but then Maya squeezed my hand back. I could feel my whole body relax at the contact, and I knew that I wanted more.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Eli declared victory. After a quick bedtime snack, he walked sleepily off to bed. Maya and I were left alone on the couch, and I felt lightheaded, even though my heart was pounding in my chest and pushing gallons of blood through my veins.
"I had fun tonight," Maya said, breaking the silence.
