Page 54 of Take Me
“No joke.”There’s that twisting sensation again, wringing my guts like a washrag.“Good thing we didn’t do anything to mess it all up.”
“Ain’t that the truth.”
I lean back in my seat, closing my eyes as the miles hurtle past.As we cruise back to the town where we’ll both try to act like everything’s normal between us.
“Oh my God.”Hazel wheezes with laughter.“They thought it wasblood?”
I’ve just finished telling the story of Sam and Maxine’s wedding weekend.We’re sitting in our favorite booth at Weirdoughs, our lunch plates shoved to the side.Hazel sits picking at a trio of perfect petits fours, her sparkly blue eyes glinting with amusement.
“Pretty sure they thought Mason murdered me,” I tell her.
“Given the state you were in when they knocked, that seems apt.”
“What do you mean?”
She gives me a sly little smile.“Doesn’t the French word fororgasmtranslate tolittle death?”
“Le petit mort.”How weird that my one term of high school French has come in so handy lately.
“Hmm,” Hazel muses, dabbing her mouth with a napkin.“I do hope you were interruptedafterand not before.”
I decide to ignore that as I signal our waitress for the check.Lunch was my treat as a thank you to Hazel for keeping an eye on my dad.“Please let me pay you back for the dress.”I whip out my phone and toggle to Venmo.“I’m so sorry I ruined it.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”She sips from her latte, looking polished and perfect with her dark hair wound into a braid bun on top of her head.“Even if I wasn’t planning to donate it to charity, hearing that story was worth a thousand times what that dress cost.”
Since I Googled the dress and learned it retails for nearly eight-hundred dollars, I guess I won’t argue too hard.“You’re sure?”
“Positive.”Hazel picks up the chocolate raspberry pastry and takes a bite.“So, things are going well with Mason?”
“Yeah, we’re great.”I leave it at that, feeling like a jerk for fibbing.“I’m looking forward to Jake and Cassidy’s wedding.”
“Did she show you her gown?It’s stunning.”
“I must’ve missed it.”Or, more likely, Cassidy Brooks knows I have the fashion sense of a groundhog.Not that I wouldn’t love being included, but I wouldn’t have much to say besides, “pretty.”
“It’s a strapless, lace appliqué, Basque-waist ball gown by Oleg Cassini.”
“Huh.”I understoodstrapless.“Sounds nice.”
“It really is.”Hazel’s gaze darts toward the door, then jerks back to mine like she’s just seen a ghost.“Have you seen their venue?”
“Hang on.”Scanning the front of the shop, I see Luke Lovelin stroll through the door with Cal Cornish.They’re with a third guy wearing an oversized hoodie and a ballcap pulled low on his face.“Is that Cooper Judson, the movie star?”
“Shhh.”Hazel stares down at her plate, forehead creased in concentration.“Don’t stare.”
“I’m not staring.”I’m also not sure why seeing some Hollywood heartthrob would affect Hazel like this.“He’s in town all the time visiting his parents.Doesn’t Cooper have a wife and a kid now?”
“I—have no idea.”Hazel crosses her legs under the table and picks up another petit fours.“Tell me more about Cassidy’s bachelorette party.We’re meeting at Spencer-King Auto and traveling to Newport together, right?”
“Yeah.”This is too good to let go.And maybe I guessed wrong about who caught Hazel’s eye.“Cal’s married and so is Cooper, and I know you’d never crush on a guy who’s already taken.Are you all discombobulated overLuke?”
“Shhh!”She’s serious this time, glaring at me like I’ve accused her of stealing the salt and pepper shakers off the table.“Drop it, okay?”
“Okay.”Well, isn’t that interesting?
I don’t know Luke Lovelin well, but I’m ninety-five percent sure he’s somehow related to Cooper Judson’s wife.Luke works with my dad, and he shows up at Spencer-King Auto sometimes to order specialized car parts.Rumor has it he’s done time in prison.
As far as I know, Luke and Hazel have no reason to cross paths.Has my friend been keeping a secret?
