Page 64 of One Night Only
“David.”
“And who’s—”
“A guy I’m talking to.”
I try not to show my surprise. Soraya’s had about as many long-term relationships as I’ve had. Sometimes I wonder if that’s why we get on so well.
“Since when?”
“A couple of weeks ago,” she says casually. “I met him on Connect.”
“What the hell is Connect?”
“It’s like Bumble but only for attractive people.” She glances at me. “You probably haven’t heard—”
“Ha-ha,” I say and she grins.
“We went for lunch at this Italian place in the West Village a few weeks ago and we hit it off…” She trails off but her voice is more unsure than suggestive.
“You should invite him to one of Claudia’s dinner parties,” I say when she doesn’t continue.
“And throw him to the wolves?”
“Sink or swim.”
She shakes her head. “We’re taking things slow.”
“Have you slept with him?”
“Of course,” she says, and reclines on her elbows. “Slow not stationary.”
I roll my eyes, brushing the grass from my knees as laughter sounds from nearby. A dog bounds toward two teenagers tossing a football, its owner chasing after him with the leash. I watch the collie as Soraya starts talking about Annie’s belated bachelorette party and I stiffen as it stops halfway across the lawn to sniff a man standing on a picnic blanket.
He has his back to me, talking to friends. Blue shorts, gray T-shirt, fair hair shorn into a crew cut. The way he’s standing is like a punch to my gut, the stance so familiar, even the way he tucks his hands into his pockets.
Josh and I used to come here all the time.
“Do you think we should invite Danni?” Soraya asks. “Or is she just going to talk about her kid the entire time?”
My eyes follow him as he leans over to pet the dog.
Josh loved dogs.
“You know she’ll make a fuss if we don’t ask,” she continues.
The owner arrives and my heart gives an uncomfortable thump as he turns. But it’s all wrong. Different nose, larger ears. The hair lighter, the shoulders narrower. It’s not him.
“Sarah?”
“I’m listening,” I say, my stomach still tight with nerves. “Invite her. She’ll say no anyway.”
“Or bring the toddler with her,” Soraya mutters. She points her toes, stretching languidly. “Do you want to get more macaroons? I seriously don’t remember eating them.”
“Sure,” I say, relieved as the man sits down on the picnic blanket, throwing his arm around a girl. I suddenly don’t want to be here anymore. “Let’s go.”
* * *
I drag myself into the next week, getting through one sweaty day after another until suddenly it’s a month since I left for the wedding. A month since I met Declan and still there’s no word from him. I decide to use the date as a personal deadline. He may not be a one-night-stand guy, but I guess two was enough for him and though my mind strays to him more than I’d like to admit, I tell myself it’s for the best. Even if my dreams have gotten a little more…colorful.
