“One of each then,” I had said when she’d finally pulled away, my voice thick with emotion.
“It’s a plan,” she’d whispered back.
“Yo, Dani, we carving this bird or what?” Isaac said.
Dani gave her head a little shake, turning her eyes back to Isaac. Had she been remembering the same conversation? “No. I mean, yes. Just not yet. It has to rest first.” She pressed a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes. “I think I, um . . . I’ll be right back.” She pulled her apron off and draped it over a kitchen chair before sliding into the garden through the back door.
“What was that all about?” Isaac asked, looking to me.
I shrugged. “She’s probably just too warm from all the cooking.” I moved to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. “Maybe I’ll see if she needs this.”
“You better let me,” Chase said, showing up in the kitchen and reaching for the bottle. “I have a feeling you are not the man Dani needs to see right now if the goal is to cool her down.”
“Wait, what?” Isaac said. He watched Chase leave then turned his gaze on me. “Is something going on with you and Dani?”
“No,” I said quickly.
He narrowed his eyes like he didn’t believe my response.
“No,” I said again. “Nothing has happened.”
“But you want it to?”
I forced out a breath. “I don’t know. Possibly?” I sank onto a barstool and dropped my head into my hands. “But after what happened, I’m not sure it matters. I don’t think she’ll have me.”
Before Isaac responded, Darius pushed into the room and dropped a grocery bag full of butter onto the counter. He looked from me to Isaac, and then back to me again. “Did I miss something?”
“Just Alex admitting that he never stopped loving Dani. Did you remember to get some heavy cream?”
“Isaac, please,” I said, shooting a glance over my shoulder at the back door.
“She’s still in the garden with Chase,” Darius said. “You’re cool.” He sat beside me on a neighboring stool. “Is it true?”
“I don’t know. And that’s all I said earlier. I don’t know how I feel. Or how she feels.”
Darius nodded his head. “You know, you’re different now. So is Dani. You never know. Maybe different is what you both need.”
“You’re talking as if I didn’t make a monumental mistake. There are no guarantees here. Even if I did, hypothetically, want us to get back together, she likely won’t forgive me. I’m not sure I would if she’d done the same thing to me.”
Isaac leaned on the counter across from where Darius and I sat. “There are two sides to every coin, man. I was here those first few months after you left. You can’t tell me she didn’t do any damage to you. Any other employer would have fired you for all the moping around you did.”
I shook my head. “I was a coward.”
“And she had tunnel vision,” Darius said. “We all saw it.”
Isaac scoffed. “What? Dani focused? Driven to the point of madness? Narrow-minded and determined to reach her goal? Never.”
“Like I said,” Darius said, reaching out and placing his arm across my back. “You’ve both changed in the past year. Never say never, you know?”
After dinner, I stood in the kitchen alone doing dishes, happy to have something to focus on outside of my earlier conversation with Isaac and Darius. It wasn’t as though I hadn’t considered the possibility of Dani and me getting back together before. But I’d worked really hard not to let myself dwell on the possibility. Not when she was still committed to her LeFranc dream job. And not when I was positive that even if that one obstacle were out of the way, she likely still wouldn’t forgive me.
I wanted to believe I had changed, that we both had. But I wasn’t sure it was enough.
“Hey Alex, you got a minute?”
Dani appeared beside me, her eyes wide with excitement. She slipped a hand over my forearm. “Come here. I need to show you something.”
I turned off the water and dried my hands, tossing a dish towel over my shoulder as I followed her into Isaac’s music room. She pulled out her cell phone and tapped on the screen a few times before handing it over. I stared at the screen, noting a New York number at the top, no contact name attached.
Band said yes, the text read. But jackets needed for each of us, not just me.
I looked up at Dani. “I don’t understand.”
“That’s a text from Reggie Fletcher. Red Renegade will play at the Compassion Experiment.”
“You’re serious? I thought Darius said he wouldn’t do it.”
“He did, but I had to try. And I mean, it did take a little convincing, but he agreed. He’s going to do it.”
“What’s this part about needing jackets?” I asked.
“That was part of the convincing I had to do. You remember that time we were over at Reggie’s with Darius, when he and Chase were pet sitting?”
“Right. The weird miniature poodle dogs, right?”
“Right. And then Reggie came home early and we were all sort of lounging around in his living room like we lived there?”
“He loved your jacket,” I said, picking up the story. “The leather one. With the red stripe down the sleeve.”
She nodded. “He wants one. And I guess now he wants them all to have one.”
“Matching jackets? That feels a little more nineties boy band than it does Red Renegade.”
“Who cares? If they’re willing to appear, I’ll make them matching tutus if they want them.”
“It’s amazing that they’re willing, but that jacket took you a long time. You handstitched most of it, didn’t you? Also, don’t celebrities have access to designers? Surely someone would want to put their name on a band like Red Renegade, even if just for one YouTube performance.”
A flit of something passed over Dani’s face. Was it disappointment? “Maybe I’m the designer who wants to put her name on a band like Red Renegade.”
“Oh. Of course. Dani, that isn’t, I didn’t mean—”
“I know you didn’t. I know what you meant. But Red Renegade hasn’t had a hit in twenty-five years. They aren’t really on the map for anyone else, at least not any other designers looking for publicity. I’m probably the best they can do. Aside from that, I want to do this.” She shrugged. “For Isaac.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Dani
I hauled the heaviest bin of fabric into the back of the SUV Paige borrowed from her Mom, then scooted it to the side, making room for Paige to slide the smaller bin in beside it. Paige and I had a mile-long list of wedding stuff to tackle, but first, a design boutique on King Street had agreed to look at my stash and purchase the lot of it if they liked what they saw. Hopefully, that would give me more than enough cash to special order the leather I would need for Red Renegade’s jackets, and still have some left over to catch up on some overdue bills.
“I have no idea how you’re saying goodbye to all this fabric,” Chase said, coming up behind us, a certain solemnity to his voice.
“Please don’t make me talk about it,” I said. I pushed my hands into my back pockets.
“I still don’t understand why you won’t let Alex pay for the leather. He could even write it off as a business expense,” Paige said.
“But this isn’t Alex’s thing. I need to do this for Isaac. He’s been good to me the past couple of months. I need to do this on my own.”
Paige nodded, but Chase shook his head. “Honey, I doubt Alex would ever tell Isaac who actually paid for the leather. Isaac might not even realize the band is wearing jackets. He’s going to be so completely mind-blown that you got Reggie Fletcher into the building in the first place, I’m not sure anything else will matter.”
“Maybe not. But it matters to me.”
Chase pulled me into a hug. “You really are too good for LeFranc, you know that, right?”
I laughed softly into his shoulder. “It’s funny,” I
said, pulling away. “I feel so different about LeFranc now. The dream isn’t quite so shiny anymore. I mean, except for you. I loved everything about working with you.”
Chase placed his hand on my cheek. “I know, darling. I know.”
Darius walked down the drive toward the car, his and Chase’s bags slung over his shoulder.
“I wish you didn’t have to leave,” I said, giving Chase another hug. “The week has gone by too fast.”
“Stupid adult responsibilities,” Chase said. “I’m glad we got most of that horrid dress made while I was here.”
I smiled. “All I need to do is sew the sequins on. Now I just hope something actually comes of it.”
“Trust Alex,” Chase said. “He’s working hard. I’m sure he’ll find what he’s looking for.”
Darius draped his arms around us both. “Let’s hope what he finds doesn’t put you out of a job, too,” he said, looking pointedly at Chase.
I froze. “Oh my gosh. I hadn’t even thought of that. Do you think it could?”
Chase shot Darius a warning look. “I think it doesn’t matter even if it does. I’ll be fine. I’m resilient. And hello, have you seen me? New York fashion will never not love this.”
I smiled, but Chase’s reassurance did little to settle my uneasiness. There really was so much on the line.
“If Sasha really is a crook,” Chase said, clearly sensing I wasn’t convinced, “I don’t want to work with her either. You’re doing the right thing. Trust that. It’ll all work out.”
I nodded. “You guys are good to me.”
“Have you thought about what happens next?” Darius asked. “After the wedding? Will you come back to New York?”
“Of course she’ll go back to New York,” Paige said. “Fashion is in New York.”
I almost agreed with her, but somehow, the words wouldn’t come. It was as though in the back of my mind, without me even realizing it had happened, a new reality had coalesced into something that felt more like me than New York ever had.
Spanish moss and cobblestone. Beach walks, shrimp and grits, open-air markets. Warm winters, hotter summers. Ocean breezes as I walked to work—a tiny design studio at the end of King Street with my name above the door.
Evenings hanging out with my brother.
Nights with Alex.
A longing that I’d never felt before swelled within me, nearly bringing tears to my eyes. I was homesick for a life I’d never even lived. But I wanted it. It still felt fragile. Dangerously fragile. But it was there, and it was real. As quickly as I acknowledged the existence of possibility, fear swept in, clutching my insides with vigor. Staying in Charleston would be abandoning so much. I’d dreamed of LeFranc because I’d dreamed of being the best. Of being a designer that people talked about, knew about, aspired to work with. I’d dreamed of runway shows and pulsing stage lights, of recognition and acclaim. I’d dreamed of being the best and I’d always told myself I wouldn’t settle for anything less. I wasn’t sure I could let all of that go.
“I don’t know,” I finally said, meaning every word. “I guess we’ll wait and see.”
Paige pulled her keys out and glanced at her watch. “You ready? We’ve got a lot to accomplish today.”
I nodded but paused before getting in the car when Alex joined us on the street to say goodbye to Chase and Darius. He gave them each a hug, lingering a moment longer with Darius, almost like he was whispering something to him. Darius quickly nodded, confirming my suspicion, then gave him an encouraging pat on the back.
“Ohhh, secret somethings whispered between them,” Chase said to me. “Know what that was about?”
“I don’t have a clue,” I said. “You?”
“No, but Darius will tell me eventually. He always does.” Chase nudged my shoulder with his. “You’re going to be okay, Dani.”
I smiled. “I know. I’ll see you at the wedding?”
“God help us,” Chase said. “I hope you do.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Alex
2:43 a.m. I stared at my phone, bleary-eyed, and tried to figure out why my alarm was going off at such a stupid hour. But then I realized it wasn’t an alarm. My phone was ringing. I propped myself up on my elbow and answered the call.
“Hello?” I was impressed at how not asleep I sounded.
“Alex, it’s Angelica. Did I wake you?”
I hesitated just long enough.
“Oh, I did, didn’t I? Sorry about that. I’m in London. I didn’t think about the time difference until I’d already dialed.”
“It’s no problem,” I said. “I’m glad you called. What’s in London?”
“We brought the kids over to meet their grandparents,” Angelica said. “We’re driving up to Cambridge in the morning.”
I smiled. I hadn’t seen Angelica since grad school. Except for an occasional interaction on social media, we’d lost touch after graduation. Imagining her married, the mother of a toddler and a newborn, was crazy. We weren’t actually old enough for that, were we? Families. Kids. A slight twinge of jealousy welled up, taking me by surprise.
“How’s the new baby?” I asked.
“Exhausting. But adorable as ever. At least she is now that we’re no longer on a transatlantic flight.”
“I bet.”
“So I have news,” Angelica said. “I’ve been through everything you sent over, and I think you’re right. The evidence definitely points to embezzlement. I called in a few favors with a friend of mine—he’s a private investigator—and get this. Solomon Rivers is a real person.”
My heart sank. I had really hoped he was a made-up entity to cover Sasha’s trail.
I swore under my breath.
“No, no, don’t be disappointed,” Angelica said. “This is actually better. He is a real person, but he doesn’t have anything to do with fashion. He lives with his mother in Blue Springs, Alabama.”
“Alabama?” I asked, cautiously.
“Yes. In the same town where the one and only Sasha Wellington grew up.”
I sat all the way up, my heart rate climbing.
“Here’s where it gets good,” Angelica said. “Eleven years ago, Sasha Wellington had her name legally changed. From Sally Mabel Rivers. Solomon Rivers is her younger brother.”
“Wow.”
“So the LLC under Rivers’ name is legit, licensed in the state of Alabama, but the cash is all in a bank in Brazil.”
I swallowed. “How much?” I knew how much I’d tracked through her fake purchases, but I had a hunch she was colluding with someone else—someone in accounting who was willing to turn a blind eye—which meant money could have been siphoned out in multiple ways.
“Just over twelve million dollars,” Angelica said.
The number nearly knocked the wind out of me. “Is there enough evidence to convict?” I asked.
Angelica hesitated. “I think so. There’s a definite paper trail if you know what you’re looking for, but my hunch is that she has someone working with her, covering things up on the accounting side. Otherwise, LeFranc would have caught her by now.”
“Thanks for your help, Angelica. I owe you one.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll give you a call when we’re back in the states. I’ve heard Charleston is lovely. Maybe we’ll come down for a visit.”
We said our goodbyes and then, almost immediately, an email from Angelica popped up in my inbox, a summary of everything we’d talked about on the phone, complete with corroborating evidence. I chuckled when I looked over Sasha’s petition for a name change. Sally Mabel. I never would have guessed.
Suddenly I didn’t want to wait to tell Dani what I’d learned. It was after 3 AM, but I didn’t care. If it were me, I’d consider the news worth waking up for. I threw on a t-shirt and crept silently through the house. The November chill bit into my bare arms and legs as I crossed the garden to the studio door. Charleston had mild winters for the most part, but a front had come through and it was frigid o
utside. Inside the studio, I rubbed my hands up my arms in an effort to chase away the chill, then moved to the stairs.
Crouching beside Dani’s bed, I suddenly thought better of my impromptu outing. She was sleeping so peacefully. Surely the news would keep until morning. But then, I was already there. If I didn’t wake her up then I’d snuck all the way up to her room to watch her sleep, which felt worse than waking her up. I was excited; I wasn’t a creep.
I reached out, gently nudging her shoulder. “Dani,” I whispered. “Dani, wake up.”
She opened her eyes, and jumped back, scrambling backward on her bed. I realized, belatedly, that in the darkness, she probably couldn’t see who I was. I was just a dark shadow looming over her.
“Dani, don’t freak out. It’s Alex,” I hurriedly said. “It’s just me.”
She reached over and turned on the lamp beside her bed. “Geez, Alex, you scared me half to death. What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”
“Sorry. It was dumb to wake you. Everything’s fine.”
“Oh.” She sat all the way up, then reached up and took down her hair. It had been piled high on top of her head and I watched, mesmerized as the blonde curls fell onto her shoulders. She ran her fingers across her scalp a few times and rubbed her eyes. She was just trying to wake up, and I was staring like an idiot. But how could I not? She was stunning.
“So did you want to hang out?” she said. “Or . . .?”
“Oh. Sorry. No. I, um, I have news.”
She glanced at the clock on her nightstand and stifled a yawn. “It better be good.”
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