Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Dahlia sat on the porch, waiting for the time to pass until she drove to meet Kara in East Hampton.
Ready to go in her floral strapless maxi dress, she still questioned whether going out was the right thing to do.
But another night at home would feel like a prison sentence since she still hadn’t spoken to Noah or heard from Charles Halston.
So here she was, in a pair of wedge sandals in hopes of a happy distraction.
Lil’s wicker chair rocked her back and forth. There was a tightness in Dahlia’s chest that could only come from bearing responsibility for someone else’s pain. She glanced at Noah’s text for the twentieth time, which still felt like a dagger to her heart.
Despite having solid reasons for withholding the details of her daughter, she still felt like an awful human.
She cared about Noah in a way that was unique from every other relationship in her life.
He felt like a kindred spirit tethered to her soul.
Their connection was raw and organic, like it came from the earth.
Or maybe it was the sky, she didn’t know.
All she knew was that this was unlike anything she had ever felt before. And this couldn’t be how it would end.
A few gnats hovered in the stagnant air as Dahlia hung onto every detail of the bathroom incident with his ex.
If she had to do it over again, she would have still stood up for herself, even if it came at a price.
Josie had obviously done a little digging herself and wanted one thing: revenge.
You only go to those lengths if you’re ripe with envy.
She watched the speck-like insects, wondering what else Josie was capable of and if Dahlia should walk away.
Despite having all morning to stew about it, her jaw was still clenched.
Her heart, on the other hand, was hollow.
Being misunderstood was the worst feeling.
In her fifteen-year marriage to Spence, she’d often thought they spoke different languages, she English and he a fictional language to suit his larger-than-life ego.
After a while, she stopped trying to communicate her feelings because it never changed anything.
She didn’t want that fate for her and Noah, but in the back of her mind, she heard a faint whisper. And it said, You’re undeserving.
Dahlia glanced at the new screens and couldn’t help but think of Noah fixing them.
How hot it had been that day, and how incredibly sexy he’d looked in his tight jeans dancing to Springsteen.
She felt like a coward and, in hindsight, should have told him sooner.
What was she so afraid of? He’s been the best thing about this summer.
All her reasons for withholding the truth suddenly seemed selfish.
Dahlia looked up at the ceiling fan, trying to dry her wet eyes. She dabbed the corners with her fingers. She’d actually put on makeup and mascara, and there was no way she would ruin that, not even for Noah Sterling.
And with that, she reached for her phone and called Kara.
It rang a few times before Kara picked up. “Kara’s party hotline. Is there someone in need of a good time? If so, I’m your girl!” Kara said in a bubbly phone operator tone.
“Ha, very funny.”
“I may have missed my calling. What’s your ETA?”
“I was going to leave in a few,” she said, letting out a long breath.
“Are you Ubering?”
“No, I’m driving Betty.”
Kara groaned.
“What? Are you embarrassed or something?” Dahlia’s voice flattened.
“God, no. I don’t care what these rich people think of me or you. But I don’t want a last-minute call saying she won’t start. Ya hear me?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Kara knew her so well.
“Any word from McHandy?” Kara delicately asked.
“Not since yesterday.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not saying you were right in keeping Daisy from him, but I understand why you did it.
You were having fun, which isn’t something you’ve gotten to do much of.
I like the guy and all, and I like him for you, but there are plenty of fish in the sea.
And I don’t want you to settle ever again.
Do you hear me? Keep the upper hand, is all I’m saying. ”
“I do, and you’re right.” But the truth was hard to deny. She liked Noah. Maybe even more than like.
“Text me when you get here. It’s going to be a blast. I’m so glad you said yes. We haven’t hung out together without kids in probably over a decade. Oh, and I think Simon is coming. To give you a heads up.”
“At this point, nothing would surprise me.” Dahlia laughed. “I have a few things to do before I go, and then I’m off. See you soon.”
Dahlia let Harry out and fed him. She spritzed her skin with a personal scent she’d mixed herself with fragrant oils and added lip gloss from her clutch.
Without any additional consideration, Dahlia opened her laptop on the kitchen table and hit send on her onboarding documents email.
Dahlia hovered over the screen, hoping she would feel better, only she didn’t.
It felt forced. Maybe Kara was right, and she was running.
Regardless, there was no going back for a do-over.
Brushwood Lane was already lined with cars, one nicer than the next, when she got there.
Dahlia squeezed Betty between a Toyota Land Cruiser and a Mercedes G-Wagon.
The heavy hatchback door stuck with the humidity, but she forced it open with her shoe.
Her espadrilles hit the hot pavement, and she was as prepared as a homebody could be walking into an exclusive, invite-only Hamptons party.
A golf cart with two college guys dressed in pink golf shirts came by.
“Need a ride to the house, ma’am?” Her head drew back.
Ma’am? How about Miss? Maybe Josie was right.
Perhaps she was too old for Noah. When they were alone, she didn’t give it much thought, but being among twentysomethings, she felt the age gap was as wide as a ravine.
“I’m good. I’ll walk. Thank you.” She gave herself a little pep talk and took a lungful of rich Hamptons air.
She texted Kara with shaky hands as her steps grew closer to the estate.
Deep down, part of her didn’t feel likable.
She knew she was aloof, but she couldn’t change the circumstances that had led up to it.
After losing her parents so young, trusting people didn’t come easy.
It came with time. And time was what most people in her life didn’t seem to have. That was, until Noah.
“Eek!” Kara ran out to meet her. She wrapped her arms around her in the middle of the rural one-lane road. “I’ve missed you, Cuz!”
“Me too. You look pretty,” Dahlia said, feeling her stomach in her throat. Kara had on a short, low-cut navy jumpsuit with flutter sleeves, paired with high nude sandals that made her legs look like they went on for days.
“Thanks, you too! Kara gave her a once-over. “Love this dress. It’s sexy but also cute.”
Dahlia gave a weak smile. She was already regretting this, and she hadn’t even stepped onto the driveway. “Whose house is this again?”
“His name is Asher. He created a bunch of apps. He’s from California but has a place here.
Tony’s firm does his financial planning.
” Kara hooked her arm around hers. “Come on; I’ll introduce you.
It’s not that crowded yet, so it’s perfect.
And if you want to drink, you can crash with Tony and me. We got a two-bedroom in town.”
“Not sure my body can handle more than one or two tonight, but thanks.”
“Oh, right. I almost forgot you’re hungover,” Kara said, straining her face with a squeamish smile. “Well, if you change your mind. You know what they say, hair of the dog.”
They walked in and through the back gate, and Dahlia’s nerves magically eased. Being with Kara was like having the wind in her sails again. She leaned into her, feeling her insides settle, at least for the moment.
“Everyone, this is Dahlia.”
Dahlia waved to the light crowd. “Nice to meet you.” It looked like an episode of On the Runway. There were so many pretty people, one after the other, as she passed the infinity pool to the bar.
“And you know Simon. I’m going to get Tony. Keep my girl company, will you, and get her a drink. She needs one,” she mouthed.
Dahlia glared at Kara with wide eyes.
“My pleasure,” Simon said with a charming British accent. “What would you like?”
“I’ll take a glass of rosé. Thank you,” she said, her eyes darting everywhere.
There was so much eye candy. It was a stark contrast to her quiet summer at Lil’s.
In some very small way, she was happy to be out around people tonight.
Yet there was a melancholy behind each smile.
If things didn’t work out with Noah, she’d be okay, eventually.
But knowing this was all her fault was a truth she couldn’t fully grasp.
She fiddled with her clutch strap. “So, where are you from?” Dahlia asked, feeling a draft that carried with it his cologne. He smelled good.
“Leeds, it’s near Manchester.” He nodded to the server behind the bar. “She’ll take a rosé, and I’ll have a gin and tonic. Thanks, man.”
She looked at him, admiring his chiseled chin, pretty profile, and eyes. At another time and place, Simon would have been her rebound. After all, he was her type, with his preppy style, thin but muscular frame, and Notting Hill vibe.
“So, when did you move here?”
“Let’s see if I can do the math.” He squinted, looking up at the sky. “It was 2005, I believe. No, 2004.”
The server placed their drinks on the glass surface and, like a gentleman, Simon passed it to her.
“Thank you. Do you like it here?” Dahlia asked about to take a sip when a man with slicked-back hair and expensive sunglasses lunged into her, spilling her wine.
Dahlia felt the chilled liquid run down the front of her dress.
“Hey, watch it! You just crashed into her, buddy,” Simon hollered, grabbing a few napkins for her.