Carter eyed the streamers and looped strings of pennants with a smile and a headshake. No one attending this party would care about decorations, but that was beside the point, he figured.
He passed the prospects wheeling in handcarts full of beer cases, dodged Chanel, her arms full of clean, folded towels, and stepped into the kitchen to find Jazz doing a fridge inventory. She had a notepad, and a pen, crossing things off, and scribbling things down. She wore a t-shirt, jeans, and flip-flops, hair tied up efficiently. He still wasn’t used to seeing her so casual, but he liked it. Felt a pang of regret, even, that she’d still been putting on a bit of a show for him; it gave proof to the fact that they weren’t meant-to-be, though. And he was glad that she was happier, now.
He waited, hands resting on the island, until she finished, and turned to find him, her smile quick, but no less warm than usual. “Hi, hon. It’s crazy around here today.”
“Looks pretty organized to me,” he said.
“Well, yeah, that’s ‘cause I’m in charge.”
He grinned. “No doubt.”
Her smile turned mischievous, even as she pulled out drawers and started counting hand towels. “You gonna bring your girlfriend?”
He felt his face heat – but he didn’t try to hedge or dodge, not this time. Leah was his girlfriend. When she was ready for and comfortable enough, he would call her his old lady. “Yeah. I think she’s nervous; she hasn’t been to a club party in a long time.”
She chuckled. “Well, I know at least one pair of boobs she won’t have to see flashing around.”
“You’re not coming?” It was impossible to imagine; Jazz had nevernotbeen at a big club bash.
“Nah.” She gave a headshake, and her smile turned soft. “I’ll make sure the place is stocked and ready, but I’m not sticking around.”
“Jazz…” Was it about him? Did she not want to see him with someone else?
But – no. She said, “I’m going out with Todd. He’s taking me for steaks and lobster.”
“On a contractor’s salary?” he blurted before he could think better of it.
She laughed. “Contractors make good money, kiddo.”Kiddo, notbaby boy. They had both moved on, and his momentary flare of worry died down.
She said, “I’m happy. I don’t want you to worry.”
He nodded.
“Are you happy?” she asked.
His answer was immediate, and truthful. “Yes.”
They smiled at one another. He hadn’t thought they’d get here – hadn’t dared to hope. It was all the more wonderful for its unexpectedness.
~*~
“I have no idea what to wear,” Leah said into her phone, pinched between cheek and shoulder as she held up two dresses by their hangers, debating.
“You always dress really well,” Ava assured from the other end of the line. Leah could hear the kids’ small voices in the background. “Way better than me.”
“I dress forwork,” she stressed. “Not wild club parties.”
Ava laughed. “Just wear what’s comfortable for you! You know everyone there. You already bagged the cute guy. It doesn’t matter what you have on.”
She made a face at herself in the full-length mirror, holding up first one dress, and then another over her current outfit of sweats and oversized t-shirt. The first dress was classic, basic black, with a cinched waist. She could dress it up or down. But it had a high, modest neckline, and wasn’t short enough to be considered flirty. The second dress had a V-neck and a swishy, scalloped hemline, but it was a summery floral print, and nothing about it screamedbiker party.
She tossed both onto the bed with the other rejects and took her phone back in her hand. “I haven’t been to one of these things in forever,” she said, toying with a strand of her hair in the mirror. “I’m nervous.”
“Of what?” Ava asked, gently.
“I don’t really know,” she admitted. “I guess – I guess it’s just that I always came as your friend. And now I’m coming…”
“As an old lady.”
