Page 106 of Chasing Hope

“Wow!” I quickly cut her off. “You look stunning!”

That isn’t a lie. Despite her teasing text messages, Cindy is wearing a red dress, a fitted corset on top giving way to silk at her hips, a small slit on the side. I give her a look. “This isn’t slutty, though.”

“Tell O’Connor that,” she whispers. “He took it off me before we left…twice.”

A surprised laugh escapes me. “I hope one day when I meet someone they’ll love me like he does you.”

Cindy pulls back, arching a brow. “Are you blind?”

Layla steps up beside me, giving me a one-armed hug and saving me from where the conversation was about to turn. “It’s not polite to accuse people like that, Cin,” she teases. Facing me fully, she smiles. “You look stunning.”

“And so do you. Green is beautiful with your hair color.”

Layla’s cheeks flame crimson. “Thank you.”

“So, what’s the occasion? Why are we dressed up?” I ask, peering around the room. The entire team is here with their respective partners, along with a few faces I don’t recognize.

Cindy’s lips purse. “I have my theories, but no one knows.”

I snap my head her way. “No one knows?”

“I’ve tried everything to make Kieran spill.” Layla lowers her voice. “Even sexual favors.”

Cindy whistles low. “Jesus, you know it’s big when he doesn’t cave.”

“Right!”

She waves her hand before clasping both my and Layla’s wrists. “Until the big reveal, let’s drink. Mocktail for the stunning red head, of course,” she adds, winking at Layla, “but you and I are getting sloshed.” She jostles my wrist.

“Sloshed?”

“Hammered, drunk, sloshed, dirty. I don’t care what you call it but I’m ecstatic to finally have a drinking buddy.”

Layla snorts. “And I’m excited that she won’t be drinking alone anymore. It was getting sad.”

Cindy lets go of our hands as we step outside. Grayson and Bella have propped open the patio doors, the living room blending with the back deck. The furniture has been moved elsewhere, and in its place, a DJ is playing music in front of the fireplace while people dance where the sofa used to be. Cindy sidles up to a bar that’s been set up on the deck, complete with a bartender.

Big reveal indeed.

Cindy frowns. “So fucking sad.” Turning to the bartender, she purrs, “Two large glasses of chardonnay, and when I say large, I mean touching the brim.”

Layla chuckles beside me, her eyes rolling.

“The decorations are amazing,” I whisper in awe, taking a look around the place. There’s a clear black-and-white theme between all the balloons, streamers, and flowers.

“All Kieran’s doing,” Layla says with pride.

“Really?” I blurt, shock evident in my voice.

Seems him falling in love isn’t the only thing that’s changed. The playboy who was all banter and jokes is now…responsible. I’m happy for him. Especially as I spot him across the deck, laughing and joking with O’Connor, his little girl Emmy on his hips looking up at him like he hung the moon.

“God, she’s adorable.”

“The cutest,” Layla sighs.

Cindy is quiet. She’s looking at Emmy and Kieran with suchunending sadness I’m momentarily stunned. She blinks and the emotion disappears, but I saw it. I know I did. And something tells me I wasn’t supposed to.

Handing me a glass of wine, she goes on, chatting away with Layla like nothing’s wrong.