Or that she’d wake up and realize it had all been a really bad dream.
On autopilot, she moved around the room and got undressed and then slipped on one of Dylan’s t-shirts to sleep in. It was silly but it gave her comfort. Ella crawled into the bed and positioned herself in the middle.
It felt weird.
Her mind was still racing a bit with all the thoughts of what could have been and what her reality was, and she knew she wasn’t going to fall asleep any time soon. A small sound made her sit up. Realizing it was her phone and that she had an incoming text, she kicked the blankets off and walked across the room to get it.
She fished the phone out and swiped the screen and smiled. Angie had texted to make sure she had gotten home okay. A tear made its way down her cheek. Ella knew she was lucky to have such amazing friends. Her family was not taking her breakup with Dylan well and hadn’t bothered to show her much sympathy. But her friends? They were her rocks. They were what kept her sane and smiling when all she really wanted to do was curl back up under the covers and cry.
Replying that she was home safe and sound and that they’d talk tomorrow, Ella put her phone down on her nightstand, crawled back into the bed and turned out the light.
And allowed herself one more night of crying.
****
Hailey paced her bedroom from one end to the other. She had gotten home just a few minutes ago and was in serious overthinking mode.
Text Jack.
It seemed simple enough. Type the message, hit send, end of story. But was it that simple? No. Why? Because she wasn’t sure what kind of tone she wanted the text to have. Collapsing on her bed, she sighed. “I have issues.”
On one hand, she could simply send an “I’m home” message with a little smiley face. It was short and to the point. But after the kiss they’d shared and the way her body was still tingling from it, she was extremely tempted to send a bit of a flirty text. Something like “I’m home—wish you were here with me” followed by a heart or something.
Growling, she sat up and looked at her phone and took a steadying breath. “Just do…something!” she admonished herself.
Her fingers moved along typing furiously and she hit send before she could second-guess herself.
Two minutes later, her phone dinged with an incoming text.
Wish I were there with you too. I pretty much kicked my own ass the whole way home.
Hailey smiled.
Good. She was glad to know that she wasn’t suffering alone.
Ten
“This is almost too decadent for words.”
“Truth.”
“Can we make plans to do this every day?”
“I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.”
It was spa day and they had opted to have a group-style massage—like a couples massage times two. And as much as the point of the whole thing was to relax, conversation never seemed to stop.
“Did Sean head back to New York?” Ella asked, her voice slightly muffled due to her position on the massage table.
“Not until this morning,” Angie said and then moaned as the masseuse kneaded a knot out of her shoulder.
“I thought he was leaving earlier in the week?” Hailey asked.
“I did too but…oh God does that feel good…he managed to handle all of his stuff via phone calls and FaceTime or whatever app he’s using.”
“And you’re good with it?” Ella asked. “Him staying for so long?”
“Mmm…” was Angie’s only reply.
“Why didn’t you say anything last night at the show?” Hailey asked and then did her own moaning as her masseuse worked on her lower back.
“I think we were all a little…distracted…last night,” Angie replied.
And it was the truth. It was the first time ever that they all seemed that way. Becca and Max had shown up together—as was becoming the norm—and rather than going their separate ways once they got there to do their own thing, they had worked together to get Max’s photography equipment set up before Becca had to start getting ready. By the time she had gone backstage, everyone was running around doing the same.
Angie had been late. Sean had surprised her with an early dinner waiting for her when she had gotten home from work. Normally she went right from her job to the show but since Sean was in town, she had opted to leave work early and meet him at her house so they could go to the show together. Once she had walked in the door and seen what he had done for her, she had wanted to thank him properly—which turned into so much more. Before she knew it, dinner was cold and she was late. She left Sean half-asleep with a promise she’d be back as soon as possible.
Hailey, for the first time this season, had not been paired up with Logan for the show. Last night was the first time she and Jack had been paired up. Normally something like that done at the last minute would have thrown her for a loop, but in a move that seemed to surprise everyone, Hailey had simply shrugged and linked arms with Jack as they lined up.
And then there was Ella. It was obvious to everyone that doing the show was causing her equal levels of pain and pleasure, but no one knew how to handle it. She came and did everything she always did and smiled while doing it, but she didn’t want to talk to anyone and she certainly didn’t linger before or after the show.
“So when is he coming back?” Ella finally asked.
“I think Wednesday,” Angie said. “I’m not sure. I’ll talk to him about it tomorrow.” She sighed loudly. “What about you, Hails?”
“What about me?”
“You haven’t said much about your date with Jack. How did that go?”
“It was…good,” she replied and then asked her masseuse to move a little to the left.
“That’s it? Just good?”
“We met up at the club where his friend was playing. We listened to the band play, had a couple of drinks and…that’s it.”
Angie raised her head—much to her masseuse’s displeasure—and looked over at Hailey. “What do you mean ‘that’s it’? So you’re done? You’re not going out with him again?”
“Oh…no…sorry,” Hailey said, her own voice slightly muffled. “I mean that was it for the night. He walked me out to my car, kissed me until I was practically a puddle at his feet and said goodnight.”
“I’m noticing a pattern there,” Becca chimed in.
“Exactly,” Hailey mumbled. “It’s becoming his signature move. I both love and hate it.”
“So what are you going to do about it?” Ella asked.
“I’m still working on it. We’ve talked to each other every night on the phone and texted during the day, but…”
“Have you flat out asked him to nail you?” Angie asked.
There was a bark of laughter throughout the room.
“Um…no,” Hailey said.
“Maybe you should,” Becca said. “It seems to me that’s what you really want. Why deny it? And besides, you already know the sex is going to be good. I say go for the sex. Always go for the sex.”
Now it was Hailey’s turn to raise her head. “When did you become such a sex fiend?”
Becca chuckled and then did her own share of moaning as her back was massaged. “Since I finally discovered how freaking awesome it can be. I’m telling you guys, Max is…”
“LA-LA-LA-LA-LA!” Angie cried out. “Just no! Stop! Do not finish that sentence!”
Becca turned her head and looked at her. “Are you kidding me? You’re always looking for a good sex story and now you’re telling me to stop? For real?”
Shifting on her table, Angie got comfortable again. “Normally I do, but you and Max are like this cute and sweet little hipster couple and that’s the image I’d rather have of the two of you. Not one where you’re…” She stopped and shook her head. “Never mind. Dammit! Now I almost put the gross image there myself!”
That just made Becca laugh. “Ha! Serves you right!” Then she settled down and sighed happily. “But back to you, Hails. What’s
your plan?”
“There is no plan. We’ve gone out once. We talked about it and know we want to get to know each other and he’s still…he’s still a little freaked out that I walked out. You know…that morning.”
“How could we ever forget?” Angie asked sarcastically.
“Yeah, I get it. Not my finest hour. We’ve been over it. I just didn’t think about how Jack would feel about it.”
“So he was mad?” Ella questioned.
“Not mad, although he said he was that morning. But by the time we talked about it he seemed like he wanted to be a little more…cautious. I got the feeling he thinks I’m using him.”
“And are you?” Becca asked. “You know, because the sex is so good?”
“Ugh,” Angie groaned.
“It was one night!”
“One night of great sex,” Becca mumbled and they all laughed.
“When are you seeing him again?” Ella asked, trying to get them all to calm down.
“I’m not sure, actually. I told him I’d call him when I got home tomorrow.”
“You mean you went out Wednesday and saw him again last night and he didn’t mention when he wanted to see you again?” Becca asked, puzzled.
“Um…”
“Wow,” Angie sighed. “That…that’s okay. I guess.”
“You guys,” Hailey protested. “It’s not like that. We just haven’t…”
“Hell, even I know that it’s not a good sign when a guy doesn’t ask to see you again,” Ella said. “What did you say to him Wednesday night to make him not want to go out again?”
“What?!” Hailey cried, pushing her masseuse away. She sat up, clutching the blanket to cover herself. “I didn’t do anything!”
“Maybe that’s the problem,” Becca mumbled.
“Enough with the sex innuendos!” Hailey snapped. “Jack and I agreed to take things slowly. So that’s what we’re doing! If he didn’t want to see me again or go out again, we wouldn’t be talking and texting every day.” She cursed under her breath.
“Um, ladies,” Hailey’s masseuse finally said, her voice firm and cool. “This is why we don’t normally recommend a group massage. You’re all supposed to be relaxing and you’re not. I’m going to suggest you curb the rest of this discussion until we’re done. Agreed?”
There was a mumbled round of agreement as everyone got back to their spots.
Within minutes, the only sound in the room was the relaxing music being piped in.
****
Two weeks later, Hailey was no closer to any…anything.
She and Jack had gone out multiple times, had seen each other at the bridal shows and yet things were still exactly the same. They met at places—sometimes for dinner or a movie or to see the same band play—and then he’d kiss her goodnight and that would be it.
She was losing her mind.
Slowly. Steadily.
Over the last two weeks, something actually had changed. Everyone was going out more, including Ella. Several times they had all met up—including Max, Sean and Jack—to get a bite to eat. Ella had been with them and didn’t seem phased by being the only single girl in the group. Now that Hailey thought about it, she noticed how Ella was actually starting to socialize a little more with everyone—including single men!
So here they were at a club in downtown Raleigh waiting for Jack’s friend’s band to go on. The place was large, dimly lit and getting crowded. Everyone was there and Hailey was standing next to Jack—listening to him talk to Sean about construction. That was Sean’s line of work but to hear Jack talk about it, it could have been his too. His hand was resting low on her back and Hailey found she liked it there. And if she had anything to say about it, she was going to feel that hand in other places tonight too.
“So what kind of music are we hearing tonight?” Becca asked as she pulled up a stool and placed it next to Hailey. “Rock? Jazz? What?”
“They’re like a cover band. They do music from the eighties along with current songs. Some you can dance to, some you can just…I don’t know…rock out to,” Hailey said with a shrug. “They’re really good.”
Max walked over and handed Becca a drink before kissing her on the cheek. Hailey couldn’t help but smile at the transformation in her friend. Several months ago, Becca had been a little insecure and quiet. Max had changed all of that. Now when she looked at her friend she saw a woman who was happy, confident. She loved that for her.
“It’s been ages since we’ve gone dancing!” Becca exclaimed and then reached for Hailey’s hand. “Promise me if they play something danceable, we’ll go out and dance! You, me, Ange and Ella! Please!!”
Hailey laughed. “Of course! But you may want to let them in on our plan. I’m not sure we’ll get Ella out there just yet. She’s making progress but I don’t know if it’s that much.”
Jack turned to them and smiled before reaching out and shaking Max’s hand. “What’s your plan?” he asked.
“Dancing!” Becca said. “If something good comes on to dance to, we’re going to get out there and dance!”
Jack chuckled and then looked down at Hailey. “Dancing, huh?”
She nodded. “It’s been years since we’ve done that. Now we just have to make sure Angie and Ella are on board. I was saying I wasn’t sure Ella was up for it.”
Nodding, Jack took a pull from his beer. “I think she may surprise you.” He pointed toward the other end of the bar to where Ella was standing and talking to one of the guys in the band. “And before you get worried, don’t. That’s Charlie. He’s a good guy.”
Hailey looked at Ella with wide eyes before turning her gaze back to Jack. “How good of a guy? Is he hitting on her? Should I go over there?” She made to move away, but Jack simply tightened his grip on her.
“She’s fine. You’ve all been worried about her and now she’s finally starting to socialize again. I think she’s all right.”
Hailey turned and looked at Becca, still unsure. “What do you think? Should we go over there?”
Becca shook her head. “I agree with Jack. This is good for her. She’s never dated anyone but Dylan. Maybe she needs to do this.”
“Do what?” Angie said, joining them. Becca explained what was going on with Ella and then pointed her out to Angie. “Oh! Oh! Look at that! And she’s actually smiling!”
Hailey and Becca both nodded.
Conversation was going on all around them, but Hailey couldn’t focus on even one of them. Her mind was swirling. Ella dating someone other than Dylan seemed wrong. Jack’s hand—which was on the verge of cupping her ass—seemed right. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Ella laughing at something Charlie said right before he walked up onto the stage.
Jack noticed the direction of her gaze and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Stop worrying about her. It’s all going to be all right.”
With a sigh, Hailey leaned in to him. “I wish I were as confident as you.”
He placed a gentle kiss on her temple and straightened as the music started.
****
“I think we may need to do something,” Becca yelled in Angie’s ear, trying to be heard over the music. They were currently dancing to a rocking version of “I Will Survive” and Ella was practically dancing on a table.
“Nah,” Angie shouted back. “This is very therapeutic for her! Let her have her fun!”
Becca wasn’t so sure. She was all for having some fun but knowing Ella the way she did—the way they all did—it was all a little unnerving. Ella wasn’t a dancing-on-the-table kind of girl. She was more of a can-I-make-you-a-cup-of-tea kind. Shaking her head, she did her best to enjoy the music and the fact that she and the girls were having a great time. Hailey was right; the band was awesome and even though the bar scene wasn’t her thing, she was glad she’d agreed to come.
Looking over at the bar, she smiled and waved at Max. He raised his bottle of beer at her and winked. God, how had she gotten so lucky? How was it even possible she could have
met such an amazing guy at the seemingly lowest moment of her life? Max was everything she always hoped she’d find in a man but didn’t think existed.
Physically, he wasn’t anything like she ever imagined she’d fall in love with. She always imagined herself with a guy who was big and built—at least, that had always been her type. But it didn’t matter. He was kind and considerate. He made her smile and laugh and feel good about herself. They could talk for hours and never run out of things to say.
She loved him.
Stopping in the middle of the dance floor, she gasped.
Angie turned and looked at her and leaned in close. “You okay? You look like you just saw a ghost!”
Becca chuckled and then started laughing almost hysterically. Jumping up, she hugged Angie. “I’m in love with Max!”
“Yeah, yeah, tell me something we don’t all already know!”
“I need to go tell him!” And before she could talk herself out of it, Becca moved across the makeshift dance floor and walked excitedly back over to the bar. To Max.
He was still smiling when she walked up to him. “You okay?” he asked in her ear. “You looked like you were having fun out there!”
Becca nodded enthusiastically and then took the bottle of beer from his hands and put it on the bar. Then she reached around and cupped his face with both hands and kissed him—the kind of kiss that promised all kinds of sexy things. When she raised her head and looked at him, she said, “Let’s get out of here.”
Max looked a little dazed as he pulled her in close, his arms wrapped around her waist. “What’s going on? I thought you were having a good time and besides, it’s still early yet.”
She even loved how he could be completely clueless at times. Like now. Leaning in close again, she playfully nipped his ear before saying, “I am having a good time but I’d much prefer to be alone with you and have a great time.” Then she pulled back and gave him a sexy grin as if to say “Get it?”
Understanding slowly dawned on his face. Holding up a finger, he stood and turned to pay the bar tab. Turning back to her, he said, “Just give me a minute. I’m just gonna hit the men’s room before we go.” He kissed her again and then carefully maneuvered around her and through the crowd.
Friday Night Brides Page 22