I wonder which busybody I have to thank for that.Probably Bryce.
Some men might talk about their sex lives with their friends, but not me.My private life is generally…private.But since I don’t think I can deny it, I say, “Uh.Yeah.That happened.”
“Have you seen her since then?”
“She’s family friends with my cousin.”
“You mean she was at the wedding this past weekend?”
“Yes.”
Malcolm sets down his piece of chicken and laughs.I glare at him.
“And?”He gestures for me to continue.
“And nothing.We saw each other again, that’s all.”
“So you’re not dating.You just had a one-night stand.”
“Correct.”
“I never thought I’d see the day that you, Max Mok—”
“I know my own name, thank you,” I say.
“—had a one-night stand.”
I shrug and focus on my mac and cheese, which is deliciously creamy.
“Max?”Malcolm says.
“I’m enjoying my food.”
“Nothing else you want to say about Kim?”
“Nope.”
“A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell, and you’re a gentleman?”
“Something like that.”I try not to think about the decidedly ungentlemanly things I said to her—or the things I wanted to do to her when I saw her ass in those shorts.
“I don’t expect any details about that night.I’m just surprised.”He chuckles.“You and Kim.You’re very different people.”
I instinctively stiffen, as if expecting him to insult her, even though she’s his wife’s friend.“Is there a problem with that?”
“No, no, opposites attract and all that, but having opposite views on many things in life…well, it can be a problem.”
Yes, exactly.
After we finish our food, Malcolm shows me some wedding pictures on his phone.As I look at the happy photos of Tessa and Malcolm, I also remember the framed photo of my parents on their wedding day, the one that hangs in their bedroom.
I murmur my appreciation, but inside, I feel a twinge of envy.
“Where should I put this, Mom?”I hold up the gift bag that contains ice wine and other goodies for my father’s sixty-fifth birthday.
“There’s a table out back with all the gifts,” she says, gesturing with a spatula.
Through the screen door that leads to the backyard of my childhood home, I can hear Auntie Gladys saying how she would have offered to host her dear brother’s birthday but she’s justsotired with all the wedding planning, and did everyone know that Mirabel’s wedding wasonlytwo weeks ago, and wasn’t it lovely?
