Page 61 of The House Guest
“I bet Chandler that you two would get together before the end of the year. It happened even faster than I’d anticipated.”
“I wasn’t lying to you that day, by the way,” I told her. “There really wasn’t anything happening between us the first time we met.”
Dorian took a sip and laughed. “Those were actually the final hours before everything blew up.”
“The sex game, you mean?” I chuckled.
Candace stopped mid-chew. “Oh my God. What are you talking about? I need to know.”
“Remember that card game you found in the pile?” I asked. “After you guys left, Dorian and I sort of played it.”
Dorian nuzzled my neck. “It’s all innocent until you do a body shot off of the woman you’ve been trying to resist for weeks.”
Chandler and Candace both had their mouths hanging open.
“Let’s just say if Dorian hadn’t been a Boy Scout the rest of that night, we would’ve gotten togethera lotsooner,” I added.
“What did he do…or not do?” Candace asked, looking all too amused.
“He actually turned me down that night,” I confessed.
Chandler’s eyes practically popped as he turned to his friend. “Are you out of your mind?”
“We both were a little out of our minds that night,” Dorian replied. “A little too drunk. So, yeah, I forced myself to be good. But it was hard.”
“I bet it was,” Chandler chided as we all cracked up.
Candace smiled. “I’m so happy for the two of you.”
“Thank you.” Dorian kissed the side of my forehead.
“How are things going with you guys?” I asked them.
Candace’s smile faded as they looked at each other.
I tensed.Maybe I shouldn’t have asked.
“We’ve been better,” she answered.
“Her treatment wasn’t as effective as they’d hoped,” Chandler explained. “So, we have to try something different.”
“We thought I’d be done and able to celebrate tonight. But the doctor called this morning after my latest scan this week and…not so lucky.”
I felt sick as Dorian looked over at me, seemingly at a loss for words. Remembering she didn’t like when people said “I’m sorry,” I scrambled to find something comforting to say. “I’ll continue to think positive thoughts, Candace.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“We’ll never give up.” Chandler kissed his wife on the cheek and offered a strained smile. “Anyway, tonight is much needed after a not-so-great week.”
Dorian forced a smile as well. “We’ve got dinner on the way.”
I nodded. “Dorian and I have been learning to cook, but we’ve spared you as our guinea pigs tonight. We ordered from that new Moroccan restaurant, and it should be delivered soon.”
Chandler raised his eyebrows. “Dorian has been cooking?”
Dorian shrugged. “Getting there. Almost burned the house down the first time I tried. But you know, practice makes perfect.”
Candace gasped. “Are you serious?”
