Page 123 of The Renter
Kate?Pressing her contact in my phone, she answers immediately. She’s already in River North and can join me in minutes.
“Girl!” she squeals upon seeing me. Her enthusiasm is a welcome silver lining. “You don’t know how much you saved me.” I stand and hug her.
“You smell amazing!” she says, squeezing me. “I think we were meant to meet tonight.” She analyzes my face. “Obviously, you’re having a shit night too. Let me tell you what I’ve been up to for the last ninety minutes. It’ll make you laugh.”
I smile and take a sip of my wine, relieved she’s sober and excited to actually catch up with her.
“Brandon thought a good date idea would be a sound bath,” she says, looking around for the waiter.
“Wait, you and Brandon are dating again?” It feels like no time has passed since we were drinking and talking about everything and nothing day after day at Sorin’s place.
“Very casually. Since this summer. Please, let me tell you about this fucking sound bath.” I hold my hands up, relenting. “Ninety minutes of listening to the most annoying sound. Why would that be fun? I haven’t been with my thoughts that long in my entire life,” she rambles. When the server approaches, she points at a cocktail on the menu without breaking her story. “I was praying for it to be over. And then—a call from Tiny!”
Laughing, I realize how much life we have to catch up on and how happy I am that it feels like we can seamlessly pick up where we left off.
“How does it work—you not being sober and Brandon being very sober?”
“Not great,” she says, sipping the cocktail that just arrived. She rolls her eyes. I recognize that feeling. All the emotions playing across her face remind me of my every interaction with Declan.
“I love that you’re still rocking purple hair.”
“Are you hitting on me?” she whispers, and I shake my head.
“We are not talking about that!”
As dinner progresses, our conversations deepen, weaving through the last five years. It feels good to have this companionship. After seeing Kelsey over the weekend and now Kate today, it’s refreshing to talk about things outside of engagement, prenups, kids, and Adam.
“So, you and Adam Harris. That’s an upgrade from Sorin!” Kate says after the waiter clears our plates.
“He’s amazing. But life with him is challenging.”
“Dude, I get it. My dad’s first, second, and third wives are his work.”
“I feel like an idiot for not realizing your dad is the CEO of Pour.”
“I do my best to leave out the context clues. People always treat me differently once they learn who my dad is.”
“So, is he going to run for governor?”
“Who’s asking?” She raises an eyebrow. “Adam, Brandon’s dad, and so many other people are on his dick about running.” Kate leans back in her chair. “It’s not like I could see any less of him, but he at least has asked me how I feel about it.”
“And?”
“I think he would be a good politician. He came from a humble upbringing and has overcome so much. But the money guys …” She cocks her head at me. “They have a lot of plans for him.”
Thinking about the hard drive of Bitcoin Adam gave him at dinner, I have an idea of what she means. Should I know all of Adam’s business dealings? Should I be involved in the weeds with him? I’ll have to keep considering that as I also think about whether or not we’re getting married.
“Adam seems great, though,” she says after a moment. “Dani and her older men.” She winks.
I laugh at the truth in that. The server sets the bill at the table. “It’s been taken care of.” Instinctively, I assume Adamtook care of it, but then the server continues, “By the guy over there.”
As Kate and I turn, Declan’s eyes meet mine across the room. There he is, unmistakably Declan, looking as good as ever. He’s at a table with five other guys, none of whom look familiar. My heart skips—not out of fear, but something far more dangerous.
Kate bursts out laughing. “You and those Kruk brothers.” She swats my arm before waving at him. “Stop,” I hiss. “I don’t want him to come over.” Her amusement of this situation only makes my heart race more.
“Kate, nice to see you again,” Declan says as he approaches, but when his eyes shift to me, it’s charged. I put my hands in my lap to hide the ring, which I’m wearing on my left finger. “Dani.” The tension in his voice saying my name … I don’t know what to do with that.
“Declan, I have a bone to pick with you.” Kate glares at him playfully. “Why did you have to introduce Brandon to sound baths?”
