Chapter 22
“I apologize again, Allie, if you felt neglected. It was unintentional,” Luke said as soon as everyone was served.
It was sweet of him to apologize but unnecessary. If anyone should be apologizing, it was Carson. Not that she needed one. “It’s alright. It gave me time to meet Zoe and Shay and learn all of your secrets.” She laughed, but when no one else joined her, she sobered up. “It was a joke.”
Allie didn’t know why, but she felt like she’d done something wrong.
“Well, if anyone had dirt on any of us, it would be Zoe,” Carson remarked, easing the tension.
“Don’t think I’m not keeping a profile on any of you,” Zoe responded before taking a bite of her burger.
“She’s not joking.” Greg grinned before kissing the side of Zoe’s head. She leaned into him. Allie could see the love between them.
“How long have you two been together?” Allie asked them.
“Two months.”
“And you, Shay, and Luke?”
“Six,” Shay answered.
“How did you and Luke meet?”
There went that tension again. Allie suddenly felt like she had to walk on eggshells with everyone. Was it some big secret knowing how two people met? “It was a club,” Shay finally replied. “We bumped into each other and started dancing.”
“She just took me in her arms and led me around,” Luke added, locking eyes with Shay as a dopey grin came across his face. Another man in love.
“Allie, I hear you met Carson through a blind date,” Shay mentioned, turning the focus off of herself.
Allie was in the middle of chewing when Shay asked her question. She finished her bite before wiping her mouth. “Yes, though it wasn’t a very good one.”
“It couldn’t have been that bad if you’re here now.”
“He made up for it,” Allie said, grinning at Carson who grinned ear to ear looking back at her.
She wondered if they looked like a couple in love.
But it was way too soon to be thinking about that.
They had only begun dating; however, it didn’t stop her heart from racing and butterflies tickling her stomach every time he looked at her.
“We all started out the same way. We didn’t like our men, but they grew on us,” Zoe commented. “Some took longer than others.” Her head tilted toward Greg. This time, Allie joined in the laughter.
“She secretly loved me from the moment we met at the night club, though she’ll never admit it out loud.”
But Zoe had told her they’d met through a work association. So, was one of them lying about how they’d met? If they were, why?
“I plead the fifth,” Zoe said before digging into her food.
“Regardless, it all worked out,” Greg added, leaning back in his chair, his plate already cleared. “Allie, I’m glad you gave this knucklehead another chance. He’s been a different man since you came into the picture.”
“He smiles now,” Jack included.
“Thanks, guys,” Carson responded in a sardonic tone.
“It’s true. You used to be all serious and grumpy. Now you’re sunshine and rainbows.”
“I wonder when Allie’s going to text,” Greg mocked in a high-pitched voice.
“I’m seeing Allie tonight.” Rob giggled.
“Alright, that’s enough,” Carson interjected. “I’m not that bad.”
Everyone laughed at that.
“Allie’s no better,” Sandy added.
Allie turned her head at Sandy to glare daggers at her ex-best friend. “What the hell, San?”
“What it’s true,” Sandy insisted, blinking her eyes trying to appear innocent. That woman hadn’t been innocent since the day she was born.
“Hardly.”
“I haven’t heard from Carson yet. Does he still like me?” Sandy mocked, then realized what she’d said. “I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have said that.”
Allie was too shocked by her friend’s comment to say anything. Anything she had ever told Sandy had always been held in the strictest of confidence. And now Sandy had just spilled one of Allie’s insecurities in front of Carson and his friends.
“Well, Allie doesn’t have to worry on that front,” Carson stated, taking her hand that was balled into a fist on the table. “I like her very much.”
“Who’s ready for dessert?” Shay inquired, standing up.
“Yes,” came a chorus of replies.
“I’ll help,” Zoe offered then got up.
“Me too,” Greg seconded and followed.
“I’ll go clean the grill,” Barry said getting up. The rest of the group got up, leaving just her, Carson, and Sandy at the table. Allie wished they hadn’t done that, making it even more painfully obvious how awkward a situation this had become, but it was too late now to call everyone back.
“Allie, I’m so sorry I said that,” Sandy apologized, looking crestfallen. “It just came out. I can’t even blame the alcohol since I’ve barely had any.”
“Did you really think that, Allie? That I didn’t like you?” Carson asked softly.
Allie felt so embarrassed. Hot tears stung her eyes, but she refused to embarrass herself further and shed them.
She turned to face Carson. “After we made love the first time, and I texted you in the morning like normal and didn’t hear from you, I did have a moment of fear you were ghosting me.
You wouldn’t have been the first.” Not after sex but just ghosting her in general.
A pained look came across Carson’s face. “I meant to text you back, but I got busy with work and forgot. I never meant for you to feel that way.”
“I knew that afterward. At the time though, I wasn’t thinking straight. I should have known you wouldn’t do that, but history crept into my mind and clouded my judgement. You’ve more than made up for it since then.”
“Well, I should hope I’ve proven I’m not that kind of guy.”
“You did. I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about,” he assured her, pulled her close, and kissed the top of her head.
“I’m really sorry, Allie,” Sandy said again, her face a mask of pain.
Allie knew Sandy hadn’t meant to be mean, and she couldn’t stay mad at her friend. “I know you are. Thank you.”
“Hope you like chocolate cake,” Shay announced, coming back outside with a two-tier chocolate cake. Zoe and Greg followed with plates and silverware.
Allie and Carson looked at each other and busted up laughing. “Did you have something to do with this?” she accused him.
“No.”
Allie glanced at Sandy who was looking off to the side while drinking her beer and appearing the picture of innocence.
“What?” Shay asked in confusion. “Carson said you liked chocolate, so I made a chocolate cake.”
“I do like cake. Thank you, Shay. It’s very thoughtful of you,” Allie managed to say with a straight face, hopeful she wasn’t turning red as a tomato. Try explaining that reaction to his friends.
“None for me,” Zoe said handing out plates. “I need to stay in fighting shape.”
“Have a slice, hon. I’ll help you burn it off later.” Greg gave her a wink and tapped her ass.
“On that note, dig in,” Shay declared.