"Come on, you know you want to tell someone. And who better than your best friend who's known you since we were kids?"
She's right. I've been dying to talk to someone about what happened, but I wasn't sure how to bring it up. The whole situation is so loaded with emotion and complications that I don't even know where to start.
"It was..." I search for the right words. "Incredible. Everything I needed, and probably even better than I remembered."
"I'll bet. That man has always had knows what he's doing in the bedroom written all over him."
"It wasn't just the physical stuff, though. It was the way he looked at me, like I was the only woman in the world. The way he touched me, gentle, but rough, like I might break if he wasn't careful enough. It was everything I needed."
"Sounds like he was making up for lost time."
"Maybe. Or maybe he was just being Devil – intense and overwhelming and impossible to resist."
"And how do you feel about it now? Any regrets?"
I consider the question seriously. Do I regret sleeping with Devil?
"No regrets," I say finally. "Absolutely. But no regrets about what happened."
"Good. Life's too short to regret amazing sex with a man you're crazy about. Especially one who wears your ring on his finger."
"Who says I'm crazy about him?" I joke, giggling.
Allison gives me a look that clearly says she thinks I'm an idiot. "Dani. Honey. The looks between the two of you could heat up the earth in the middle of winter."
She's right. Even now, just thinking about the way he whispered my name in the dark makes my skin tingle.
"Anyway," I say, desperate to change the subject before I give away any more of my feelings, "what about you? Any interesting developments in your love life?"
Allison's cheeks turn pink, and she suddenly becomes very interested in her drink. "Not really."
"Liar. You're blushing." I point an accusatory finger at her.
"I am not blushing."
"You absolutely are. Come on, spill."
She's quiet for so long that I start to think she's not going to answer. When she finally speaks, her voice is barely above a whisper.
"Dime and I have been spending time together."
"I knew you went out a couple of times. It’s more than that?" I nearly choke on my margarita.
"It's been going on for a few weeks now. Ever since the Fourth of July, we've been spending a lot of time together, I just haven't told you because of all the shit you've been going through."
"Tell me about what happened with y'all after that first date."
"He was so sweet that night," Allison continues. "Made sure I got home safely, checked on me the next day to make sure I was okay. One thing led to another, and..."
"And now you're seeing each other regularly?"
"We're taking it slow. You know I've been hurt before. But there's something about him, Dani. He makes me feel safe and protected, but also desired. Like I'm something precious that he wants to take care of."
I can hear the emotion in her voice, and it makes my heart happy for her. Allison has been through her share of heartbreak over the years. She deserves someone who will treat her right.
"I'm happy for you, Allie. Really. Dime's a good guy."
"He is. And he's been so understanding about the whole situation with Logan. I probably shouldn't have told him about it, but it just came spilling out one night when I was particularly frustrated."
