Page 48 of The Best Wrong Move

I’m fine. Rex told me he misses me. It’s time to squash any last thoughts of a rekindling.

Three little dots appear under Dom’s last text, then disappear, then appear again. I wait for his reply, but it doesn’t pop up. Just as I’m about to explain more, feeling like maybe Dom isn’t having as much fun as he was when we first started this little charade, I hear the ping come in.

Is it time to play out that scene fromWhen Harry Met Sallythrough those walls? How nuclear are we talking here?

I laugh out loud. I love that scene.

Let’s save the big guns for when we really need them. I was thinking we could invite them over for dinner at my place.

His response is almost immediate.

You want us to have dinner with your ex?

A warning shot fires in my stomach. Is this taking it too far? I want Rex to get the message that I’ve moved on, just as much as he has. I don’t want to be worried that he’s going to come corner me on the beach every time I’m walking back to the townhouse alone.

Another text comes in, just as I’m about to take it all back.

I’m in.

I suck in a breath.

Can you be here by five? I’ll make sure they can make it.

Those three little dots play another round of hide and seek, blinking on, then off, then on again before his answer comes in.

Game on. I’ll bring a few things to grill.

My nerves get the best of me, and by the time Dom shows up with a big bag full of steaks and veggies to throw on the grill, I’m already shaky. I’m glad I had the good sense to let Pru outside, since I’m not quite ready to explain that one yet.

“Hello!” I exclaim, throwing open the front door. “You ready for this?”

He laughs before stepping inside. Juju and Rex are out back on the patio, Rex’s arm looped protectively around her waist. I made sure to extend the invitation to Juju, so Rex couldn’t decline on their behalf. I can tell he’s nervous that the truth of our recent relationship is going to slip out whenever I’m around. And, by this point, I feel like he’s already dug himself into a hole that he can’t climb out of once the truth finally does come out.

We make our way out to the deck, and Dom quickly gets to work on the grill. Once the food is sizzling, he slips an arm around my waist and settles in, leaning us both against the rail.

Juju brought over a pitcher of her homemade mai tais, which is already half gone, while the sun is starting its evening light show. This time it’s a glowy array of golden and amber tones, sunlight bouncing across the surface of the waves like someone’s released ten thousand microscopic diamonds from the sky, each one tiny and alive.

“You look stunning tonight,” Dom tells me, leaning in for a kiss.

I let his lips linger against mine, feeling the weight of Rex’s eyes on my skin.

When we pull away, Juju is fanning herself.

“You two are making it hotter than it already is out here!” she exclaims, leaning into Rex. She looks up at him as if she wishes he would kiss her like that, but he doesn’t. He just leans his elbows against the rail, acting far too invested in the sunset taking place behind us.

“Let’s play a round of truth or truth!” Juju calls out after everyone’s tumbler has been freshly refilled.

Rex scoffs loudly, like he’s heard this request from her before.

I truly don’t know what I ever saw in him. He seems like a major killjoy whenever I’m around him now.

“I don’t think they want to—” Rex begins, just as Dom agrees to play.

“What is truth or truth?” I ask, eyeing Rex since he looks so adamantly opposed.

“It’s just like truth or dare, except it’s only truths,” Juju explains. “Just a fun way to break the ice while we wait for the food. I used to play it in college all the time.”

Dom cocks one eye at me.

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