I drive him to Sidney’s, my mind racing about tonight. About dropping Jacob off. Sleeping alone in the house tonight. By the time I pull up to Sidney’s, I’m close to turning the car around.
But Jacob’s eyes are too bright. He’s so excited. Besides, it’ll be good for both of us to have some fun.
My mind at ease, I greet Sidney on her porch as Luke and Jacob run inside.
“Hot date tonight?” she asks.
I run my sweaty palms down my leggings. “Nothing like that. Just drinks with Dax and a couple friends.”
Grayson steps out, his hands in his pockets. “Hey, Clara.” He kisses Sidney’s cheek, then rushes down the steps to his truck.
“A man of few words.” She watches after him, her eyes shining, and her love for him is obvious.
She reminds me of myself when Mitch and I first got engaged. It was pure bliss, even more exciting than when we first got together. It was the beginning of a promise, a long future ahead.
My chest tightens as I give her a hug, thanking her again for letting Jacob come over. Waving, I get into my SUV and head home to change. The whole way, my stomach is in knots like I’m about to go bungee jumping instead of a casual night out with friends.
In my room, I try a few different outfits, gazing longingly at Mitch’s flannel shirts. Biting my lip, I keep rummaging.
I need something fun.
Something to make me feel like my old self again.
I finally decide on fitted jeans that are buried in the back of my closet and a red short-sleeve top. Once upon a time, Mitch called it my date shirt because of its low neckline. That, and he said red brings out a wild side in me.
I cling to the shirt as I recall memories of flowers and courtship. Wine and late-night laughs over who’d get the last mozzarella stick. We’d end up cutting it in half.
We always had a good time, no matter if we were studying or on a date.
Exhaling, I check myself in the mirror one last time, smoothing my shirt down. I feel like I did when I met Sidney for my interview, nervous and overwhelmed, but excited too.
It’s just drinks, I remind myself.
A night out with friends.
With Dax.
A night of fun.
Twelve
Clara
I take a deep breath as I step into Hooligan’s, a dimly lit country bar. There’s a wooden countertop to one side. Several beers are on tap, and the crowd is small but buzzing with the unique charm of small-town living—very different than Atlanta.
“Over here.” Ahead, Dax waves me over to a booth, and my shoulders relax as I approach him.
“Hey.” I set my purse down. Without thinking, I slide in next to him, then notice the empty seat opposite us. “Aren’t Staci and Brooks coming?”
“They’re on their way. Got hung up at the hospital.” He leans in and gives me a kiss on my temple like he’s done so many times before, but when I take in his expression, it suddenly feels different. His gaze slowly rakes from my eyes, to my lips, to my shirt. Clearing his throat, he straightens his back like he’s trying to compose himself. “You look great.”
He folds his arms on the table, and from this close, I notice a dimple when he clenches his jaw.
How cute.
My blush grows as red as my shirt as I thank him and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.
“What can I get you to drink?” the server asks me.
“I’ll have a glass of Pinot Grigio, please.”
Once she’s leaves, Dax asks, “Sienna can’t make it tonight?”
“I called her, but she’s visiting her sister in San Francisco.”
“Sounds fun.”
“You’d think, but it sounded like she was only there to get her Louboutin pumps back.”
I’ve been hanging out with Sienna some mornings on her porch. We went shopping once too. We set out to go shopping, anyway, but every time we entered a store, she took a deep breath and walked out. She said she does the same with carbs—smells them instead of indulging by actually eating them. She’s trying to prove to her dad that she’s not a total spoiled brat—her words—so she didn’t buy anything that day.
Instead, we had coffee at the Better Buzz and talked about ways to convince her father to give her more money since her friend Maya cut her off. Evidently, Maya’s husband’s son discovered her spree and cut her off.
I suggested Sienna get a job of her own. She laughed at first like I was joking, but I found her scrolling job sites on her phone yesterday morning.
After our server sets my drink in front of me, Chatty Cathy appears seemingly out of nowhere. “Hey, you two. My goodness, it’s great seeing you two together like this. I always knew there was more to your ‘friendship.’” She giggles and places her hands on her hips like we’re her second graders.
She teaches at Jacob’s elementary school, and it appears I can’t get away from her and her prying eyes.
She thinks this is a date.
My cheeks burn, although without Staci and Brooks here, it does appear to be a date. We’re sitting on the same side of the booth, our shoulders touching.
I’m in my sexy shirt.
I stutter, “No. We’re here as friends. Definitely friends.” I peer at Dax for help, but he remains silent, working his jaw back and forth, his dimple coming and going.
“Really? Because you two would make an amazing couple.”
“We’re friends, Cathy.” Dax’s voice is low, and his tight-lipped smile seems forced.
“My mistake.” She shrugs, but she still smirks as she turns away like she doesn’t believe us.
There’s a pause with newfound tension surrounding this booth like a third presence. I shift in my seat, ready to ask Dax if everything’s okay, but he speaks
