She took in a deep breath. “I’m sorry. It just seems like youdon’t have any time for me.”
“That’s not true. I’m here with you now, aren’t I?”
“For an hour or two.” She wrapped her arms around her neck. “Imiss you.”
She put her hands on Grace’s waist and kept a small distancebetween them. “Okay. I’ll help you for a little while this afternoon.”
Grace’s mood perked up immediately. “Yeah! We can have hotchocolate and listen to Christmas music. It’ll be such fun.” She squealed withexcitement.
“Okay, then. Let me get some warm clothes for later, and I’llfollow you to your place.” Dex ran up the stairs to the bedroom.
“Where are you two going tonight?” Grace shouted.
“Ice-skating,” Dex said as she sprinted down the stairs to theliving room.
The tiny hairs on the back of Grace’s neck stood up. “AtMillennium Park?” Another something they always did together.
“Yeah. Can you believe Emma’s never been before?”
“But we always do that.”
“What’s the deal, Grace? Why isn’t Brent taking you?”
“I told you he’s going out with his buddies.” She frowned.
“Emma hasn’t skated in years, and she might need some help gettingthe hang of it again. So it wouldn’t be much fun for you. I’m sure Brent willtake you another night. Just ask him.” She took her jacket from the closet.“Come on, let’s go. I only have a few hours.”
Grace picked up her bag from the end table and went to her car.She didn’t like being second in line for anyone, including Dex.
* * *
Emma had been quiet the whole walk to the rink. Dex had tried toexplain why she’d been late when Emma had picked her up, but having to wait inthe car for a half hour until she got home had made the situation even worse.It seemed as though Grace had gotten between them again. She had no idea howshe was going to resolve this conflict between Emma and her best friend.
“Hey! Fancy meeting you here.”
Dex closed her eyes when she heard the voice. Fuck. Grace hadfollowed them here even though she hadn’t invited her.
She turned around, tilted her head, and stared. “Fancy that.” Shelet the words roll from her lips slowly. Grace glanced away quickly. She knewDex was pissed.
Emma peered around her. “Is Brent here?”
“No. He’s not an ice-skater.”
“You came alone?” The surprise in Emma’s voice was clear.
“Sure. I do it all the time.”
Emma turned to Dex. “And she just happened to be here on the samenight as us?”
Dex let Grace move ahead of them as they walked into the rink areaand fell back to talk to Emma. “I’m sorry. I told her we were coming, but Ididn’t invite her. I didn’t think she’d just show up.”
“Really?” Emma shook her head. “Even I know she’d show up. Whenhas Grace ever needed an invitation?”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I just didn’t expect to have to share you with Graceall evening.”
“I’m really sorry. I swear I didn’t invite her. She’s probablyhere because we’ve always done this holiday stuff together, and Brent’s notinto it.”
Grace slowed up. “It’s tradition,” she said, apparently catchingpart of their conversation.
“We need skates,” Dex said, and started toward the skate rental.
“I’ll get them.” Grace took some money from her pocket and rushedto the counter.
“This is the second time she’s horned in on one of our dates,”Emma said as she found a place for them to sit and change into their skates.
“I’m sorry.” She shrugged. “I don’t know what else to say.”
“Tell her to go home.”
“That would be rude.”
“And you don’t think she’s being rude right now?” She glanced overto see Grace walking toward them with a pair of skates dangling from each hand.“Do you see three pairs of skates there?”
“She just doesn’t know your size.”
“She didn’t even ask.” Emma shook her head. “She sure didn’t haveto ask for yours, did she?”
Grace held up the skates. “All set.”
“Did you leave Emma’s at the counter?”
“Oh, sorry. I forgot.” She smiled at Emma. “You can get your own,can’t you?”
“Seriously?” Emma slipped her boots back on. “I’m gonna go.”
“So it will just be the two of us?” Grace asked, seemingridiculously happy now.
“No, it will not.” Dex took Emma by the hand and moved her awayfrom Grace. “Please don’t go.”
Emma closed her eyes and took in a breath. “This isn’t going towork tonight. Just go have fun with Grace.”
“I don’t want to skate without you.” Dex’s voice rose.
“Then you should tell her to go home.” Emma didn’t sound angrynow. She seemed more disappointed.
“Come on, Em. It’s just a few hours.” Dex knew she sounded needy,but she really wanted her to stay.
“You have no idea, do you?”
“Come on, Dex,” Grace shouted from the ice, and Dex turnedmomentarily.
Emma pulled out of her grasp.
“What? Wait.” She reached for her again.
“Stop.” Emma put her hands up in front of her. “You need to thinkabout who you want to continue your Christmas traditions with. This cozythreesome isn’t working for me.” She searched her pocket for her keys. “Let meknow when you’ve figured that out. I’m sure you can get a ride home withGrace.” She took off quickly through the crowd.
Dex stood there watching Emma leave and wondering how her nighthad gone to shit without her even doing anything wrong. When they’d run intoGrace in the ice-rink parking lot, all talking had stopped, and the onlyconversation Dex had been able to get from Emma was one-word answers. Dex hadbeen totally stunned. She couldn’t believe Grace would blatantly horn in on herdate with Emma. On second thought, it was typical of Grace to get what shewanted, even if it made Emma and Dex uncomfortable. Dex just didn’t think itwould be such a huge deal.
She spun around to Grace, who was now at the edge of the rinkwatching with rapt attention. “Why the hell did you do that?”
“Do what?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. You showed up hereuninvited, and then you didn’t get Emma any skates.”
“I didn’t know her size.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it. You should’ve asked.”
“It not like she was having a good time. Did
