Page 109 of Just for Tonight

And they laugh. They laugh and Merrie tops up my glass and Sylvia insists that I eat something and Cameron asks again for Jake’s number.

“You’ve got it bad?” Willow asks in an undertone and I can only nod agreement.

“Really bad,” I say and she gives me a hug.

“What about him?” Sylvia asks. “Is it reciprocal?”

“I don’t know,” I admit. “I can’t even guess.” I think for a minute. “Sometimes I think it is mutual, but he has never admitted to that. He says we’re done.”

“And that would be the problem,” Merrie concludes, then fills my glass.

“You need a plan,” Cameron says.

“I don’t have a plan. I was giving him time and space.”

“Maybe we should ask him to the wedding,” Daphne says, looking mischievous.

“Oh, that’s perfect,” Sylvia agrees. “Lots of people get together at weddings.” She smiles at me. “Mike and I are going with Sierra. You can hang out with us if Jake gives you the cold shoulder.”

I’m loving just the possibility of seeing Jake again in less than two weeks.

“Tell me that you have the perfect thing to wear,” Cameron says, leaning across the table.

I think of Madison and smile. “I don’t. Not yet. But I will.”

There are cheers around the table, another round of drinks, then Daphne is asked about the wedding plans.

Jake at the wedding. In a suit. The idea has definite possibilities and it certainly makes me smile.

31

Jake

Out of the blue and a bit late, I get an invite to Luke and Daphne’s wedding. This astonishes me on many levels, although it probably shouldn’t. The wedding is on the 30th in Empire, just over a week away. Luke and I had agreed to start fresh, but I didn’t expect this. It seems that he decided to be impulsive and extend an olive branch.

I sense that if I decline, that might set us back a bit on that new beginning.

On the other hand, it is a wedding, in Empire, that Mackenzie will almost certainly attend.

I wonder if Abbie is coming, and send her a text.

She is.

The thing is that my presentation to the Cavendish clan is scheduled for Labour Day, the holiday Monday. This year, it’s September 1, so it’s the same weekend as the wedding. I was going to drive down and back the same day, but I can’t stop thinking about that corporate rental owned by Rhodes Vineyards.

It’s actually not the accommodation I’m thinking of.

Mackenzie could say no.

I wouldn’t blame her.

I’m hoping she’ll say yes. I’m thinking we could have one last fling, then walk away from each other forever. I know this is wishful thinking on many levels, but I want to see her. I refuse to examine that more deeply.

I could pick up Abbie on Friday, drive down to Empire, stay the night, attend the wedding, stay two more nights, have the meeting and drive home late Monday.

It’s a highly enticing option and not because the townhouse has a good hot water heater.

I check the online reservation system and the townhouse is available for the entire weekend.