Page 41 of Crazy Thing

But still, there’s no sign of Darius.

Why do I even care that he’s not here? It’s Saturday. I’m off the clock. Darius Brighton’s whereabouts are none of my business. So I can’t understand this weird, tugging feeling in the center of my chest.

Tying and readjusting the strings of my bikini top, I force myself back to the conversation.

“I keep having a dream where I’m walking down the aisle in my bathrobe,” Daphne is explaining. “I’m so stressed that I haven’t been able to find a wedding dress. Now it’s started haunting my sleep.” Her eyes shift around our table in search of support.

Inez squeezes my sister’s shoulder. “Oh, hun. The wedding is still more than four months away.”

Karli pours herself a glass from the fresh pitcher of bourbon lemonade I whipped up a little earlier. “Four months is way more than enough time to find a dress. Trust me.”

“Are you sure? I’m starting to lose hope.” Daphne whimpers.

As we all speak, Layla is busy eyeballing Archer Brighton. He’s tall and shirtless and built like a brick house as he emerges from the deep end of the pool. The poor woman is practically drooling.

Karli elbows her best friend in the ribs. “Layla!” shehisses under her breath. “Pick your jaw off the ground and say something reassuring!”

Flustered, Layla brings her attention back to the conversation. But clearly, she has no idea what we’re talking about. “Huh?”

Nicky laughs. “Girl, you haven’t heard a word anyone’s said since that man walked by, have you?”

Layla’s blush spreads down her neck like a violent rash. “Sorry. Got distracted.” She shakes her head and takes a big gulp of her drink.

“I’d bet,” Karli says, rolling her eyes.

Giggling, Meghan nibbles on one of the delicious sugar cookies Grammy Westbrook brought along from The Wildberry, her famous Honey Hill bakery. “My friend, Lexi, owns a second hand bridal boutique out in Crescent Harbor. I’ll send you the link to her shopping app. Or even better, we can all plan a trip down there to check out the shop in person.”

“Thanks, Meghan.” Daphne pulls in a breath, but honestly, she doesn’t seem all that relieved. My sister’s eyes turn to me with the most pitiful expression. My heart melts down to goop.

I may not know anything about shopping for wedding gowns. But I do know a soul in need of reassurance when I see one.

“Okay. Maybe I can help.” I slip a hand into my cloth satchel and dig around a bit.

Nicky picks up the pitcher of boozy bourbon lemonade and pours herself a refill. “Uh-oh. Here comes the tarot deck.” The rest of the girls chuckle.

“Oh, shush, all of you,” I say through my grin. “My tarot readings are accurate and all you bitches know it.” I take a deep breath and begin to shuffle my trusty cards.

But before I can start my tarot reading, a supermodel struts up to our table. An actual supermodel. Blonde hair like silk. Legs long enough to serve as airport runways. Boobs like perky twin mountains in her tiny triangle bikini top. I mean—wow!

And I don’t know why, but I instantly get a sinking gut feeling about her.

The woman’s neon white smile floats across the table. “Hey, Karli.”

Karli blinks, her expression registering surprise. “Hey! Cecily, hi! You’re…here.”

“I’m here!” The woman throws out her arms at her sides with flair.

Karli graciously introduces Cecily to everyone around the table, but Ms. Supermodel seems eager to get the introductions over with.

She nervously runs her tongue over her bottom lip and her cool girl persona slips as she zones in on Karli. “So…how’s Darius? Will he be here today?”

When she says that, my gut swirls.Darius? What does she want with Darius?

Instantly, I try to fight off my curiosity. That man’s personal life is none of my business. We’re work colleagues. He’s my boss. I’m his employee. That’s all there is to it.

Karli’s response is polite but a bit cautious. “Um, er, you know Darius. He probably won’t show up. He’s most likely at his desk, buried under a mountain of paperwork as we speak.”

Cecily’s face falls with disappointment. “Oh. I was hoping to run into him. I haven’t seen him since that night he took me dancing. You remember?”

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