Erin’s brows knit together. “Do you know every event planner in the state?”
“Of course not. But he doesn’t know that.”
Erin laughed. “Well done.”
“I still think one of us should warn Honor away from that jerkoff.”
“You’re probably right. We’ll talk to her tomorrow.”
She hated that her sister was much too nice to weed out the bad guys. Poor Honor always gave her dates the benefit of the doubt, always went in with such high hopes, and her hopes were always dashed. She dated such losers.
Erin’s gaze gravitated to Jason, who was definitely one of the good guys. Who cared about one chosen word? She was lucky to have him in her life, to know he cared about her.
Everyone destroyed her charcuterie board, which made her very happy. There wasn’t one grape or nut left. Not even crumbs. Clearly everyone came hungry.
And dinner was great, with fajitas and rice and salad and watermelon. Everyone hung out inside and seemed perfectly happy to stay in where it was cool. Except the guys, of course, who had to “help” Jason grill the meat outside, where it was a million-degrees hot.
“Dudes,” Alice said as they sat around the table and ate. “I don’t understand their need to hover in groups over a steamy hot grill and drink beer.”
“Harkens back to their caveman days, I think,” Erin said.
“And they say women travel in herds,” Daria said. “I can guarantee you that you’ll find a larger group of men huddled together at a gathering like this than you will women.”
Summer nodded. “Whereas women tend to mingle with everyone.”
“Probably because we’re better at conversation with both sexes,” Erin said.
“Wait.” Jason looked over at her. “You’re saying women are better at something?”
“Yes.” She arched a brow for emphasis. “Care to argue the point?”
He looked at her for a second, then shook his head. “No, ma’am.”
“You’re a very wise man,” Mike said.
Erin laughed.
Once dinner was over, the guys all piled into the living room to argue over a baseball game. The women congregated in the kitchen to drink. Erin thought their activity was way more fun.
She was currently at the kitchen island refilling her wineglass when Jason came in to grab two beers. “Are you doing okay?”
“I’m great, thanks. Dinner was good.”
He gave her a quick kiss. “It was. Thanks to you.”
He walked away and she couldn’t help but sigh as she made her way back to the kitchen table, where they’d set up a multitude of chairs for everyone to sit and relax.
“I swear you have hearts popping out of your eyes whenever you look at Jason.”
She turned to Alice. “I do not.”
“You totally do. You’ve got that love look.”
“I do?”
“Absolutely. No sense in denying it.”
She couldn’t very well deny it since it was true. “Okay. I won’t.”
“Have you told Jason how you feel?”
“No. Mainly because I haven’t closed off the whole ex-fiancé thing yet.”
“Oh.” Alice frowned. “Why not?”
“I don’t know. Probably because I don’t want to talk to him.”
Alice laid her hand on Erin’s arm. “I can’t blame you for that. But you can’t move forward with your life until you close that chapter.”
Not the first time she’d heard that.
“I know. And it’s a barrier that’s preventing me from telling Jason how I feel about him.”
Alice gave her a sympathetic look. “So what’s stopping you?”
She wished she had an answer for that. “Nothing, really. Other than not wanting to face him.”
“I can’t blame you for not wanting to see him, Erin. What he did to you was awful. And I hate using the word ‘closure,’ but in this case, you do need it, if for no other reason so you can put the past behind you and have the future you deserve.”
That did sound good. “You’re right. I’ll make it a priority.”
Because she knew what she wanted. And who she wanted it with. But she couldn’t take those steps until she closed the door on her and Owen.
The party broke up around one. Erin had already had a full day, and she was exhausted. But she wanted to talk to Jason, needed some alone time with him. Fortunately, they had great friends who had helped clean up.
Jason closed the door when the last person left, then turned to face her. “Fun night, huh?”
“Great night.”
They walked together into the living room. Puddy and Agatha were passed out on the floor together.
“Those two had fun.”
“They wore themselves out, plus soaked up all the love they got from everyone. I know Agatha will probably sleep all day tomorrow.”
Jason pulled her down on the sofa. She curled up next to him, wishing the two of them could just be silent like this, soaking each other in. But she had important things to say.
She straightened. “We need to talk.”
“Uh-oh. That’s never a good conversation starter.”
“Owen texted me a couple of times asking to talk.”
He nodded. “I wanted to talk to you about that. He came by here this afternoon.”
Her pulse skittered. “He did? What did he say?”
“He wanted to talk about you. About his decision. I wouldn’t let him. I told him he had to talk to you first.”
She didn’t know if she was relieved or disappointed. If he’d told Jason his reasons, maybe Jason could have prepared her for the conversation she was going to have with him. Then again, that would have been unfair. And Jason had just been looking out for her—taking her side—which was why she loved him. “Okay. Thanks. I’m . . . I’m going to talk to him.”
“I think you should. I know it won’t be easy, but don’t you think it’s time?”
She let out a soft laugh. “I don’t ever want to talk to him again. But yes, you’re right. It has to be done. I have to finish this. Or we can’t . . . you and I can’t . . .”
He smoothed his thumb over her hand. “Yeah. I know.”
She loved that he understood, that she didn’t have to say the words.
She laid her head on his shoulder
