Page 117 of With a Cherry On Top

Shane tsks. “Are you kidding? Twenty that he gives him his number.”

We all watch, breath held, as the bouncer smirks and actually takes Kyle’s phone, tapping something on the screen. Kyle returns to the table, triumphant, waving his phone like a trophy.

“Oooh!” I slap a twenty-dollar bill in Shane’s hand, and he passes it to the waitress as he orders another round of shots. There’s been a lot of those.

Kyle plops back into his seat, shooting back his drink. “Well, there you go. He said I should give him a call if I ever feel like switching sides. Whose turn is it?”

“I believe it’s mine,” Ian says, but before he can make a move, Amelie plops onto his lap, and Primrose does the same with Logan. Heaven follows suit, nestling onto Shane’s thighs.

“You guys look like you’re having fun,” Primrose teases, her tone light. She doesn’t sound drunk at all, probably because she’s still breastfeeding.

“Boo!” Kyle half-heartedly shoves her shoulder. “I agreed to this embarrassing bachelorette-slash-bachelor party, but the deal was everyone would stick to their own guests.”

“Sorry, I wanted to kiss my fiancé.”

I turn to Amelie, her eyes dancing with warmth, and just like that, I realize she missed me as much as I missed her. “You’re here.”

“I am.”

“Couldn’t stay away from your kitchen, could you?”

She shrugs. “Well, I’m happy to see it, that’s for sure.”

“I hear you’re also in a rush to leave.”

“Yeah.” She frowns for a moment, then she points at me, eyes twinkling. “But I’ll be back next week—just on Thursday. Barbara needs to be home and since I have the day off, I’ll work the dinner service at the restaurant. But before that, you and me, my place. I have to show you thisunbelievablerecipe. You’re going to love it.”

“Hell yes.” I meet Ian’s gaze, and there’s no tension. “Can’t wait.”

“Seriously, you’re a bunch of losers,” Kyle complains, pouting as he crosses his arms. “We were playing a game.”

Primrose kisses the tip of Logan’s nose. “Then keep playing!”

“Ugh. Fine. Ignore the girls. Whose turn was it?”

Ian starts to say something about skipping his turn, but I hardly hear him as I grab a shot from the table and down it. When I look up, all eyes are on me.

“What?”

“It’s your turn.”

Oh. “All right.” After making Logan dance on a raised platform in the middle of the dance floor and forcing Kyle to ask for the bouncer’s number, I know I’m in for it.

“Maybe we should set him up with someone,” Heaven suggests.

“Excuse me, but you’re not part of the game,” I playfully scold. “The guys have to decide.”

Shane raises his hand. “I vote for the setting up thing.”

The table nods, their faces lit with amusement.

Great.“Whatever. Who am I being set up with?”

“Who looks good?” Amelie asks.

I scan the room, my brain clouded by the mix of vodka, rum, and beer. I’m not even looking for someone attractive—just someone to get this over with. Until red catches my eye.

Is that...it can’t be. Itcannotbe her. I didn’t tell her I’d be here—I didn’t know the name of the place until I texted Kyle for the address two hours ago. But as I take in the backless, deep emerald dress hugging curves I know too well, my heartbeat skips. It looks like her.

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