Page 34 of When You Left Me Speechless

On Wednesday afternoon,I receive an email from Margaret offering me a full-time position, pending I graduate. I am a little surprised she offered it to me so quickly, but I’m thrilled. I’m also really proud of myself. In a few months, I will get to work with my best friend in the entire world. It feels like a dream. Now, I just need to make it to graduation.

“Honey, I’m home,” Lacey shouts, barging through our apartment door simultaneously popping a bottle of champagne. “Congratulations!”

I run over and hug her. An excited scream leaves my throat as she shakes the bottle and the bubbly liquid sprays all over me and the floor.

“I can’t believe we are finally going to work together. This is really like a dream come true, Lace.”

“I know, right? I know you are going to love it. The team is great, and you can officially come to dinners. I’m so excited. Did you tell Andrea and Nicole?” We walk into the kitchen, and I grab a couple of glasses from one of the cabinets.

“Oh yeah, I texted them right after I texted you and Olive. They were super supportive. They know how much I wanted this.” I pour us both a glass of champagne. “To achieving ourgoals,” I say, clinking my glass against hers. We both take a long sip.

“I am worried about something,” her voice drops. “Can I ask you a question?” Her change of tone surprises me, and I’d be lying if I’m not a little worried about what she is going to say.

“Yeah, Lace, shoot.”

“What will you do when you can no longer see Mr. Hottie Mchotterson every day?” Her mouth curves up to a grin.

“Lacey!” I yell.

CHAPTER 22: THE GENTLEMAN AT THE CENTER TABLE

LOGAN

“Is Jacks still traveling?” Donovan asks. “I was hoping he might be back. We wanted to talk to him about shooting the wedding.”

“Yeah, until the end of June, I think. I don’t know what I’ll do when he gets back. It’s been nice having our apartment to myself the last few months,” Tanner says, smearing a piece of bread through the hummus in the middle of the table. “Don’t have to worry about a roommate when I bring a girl home.”

“And when was the last time you brought a girl home?” I ask.

He takes a long sip of his drink and grunts.

“I heard y’all completely swept the tournament this week,” Enzo says to me, changing the subject.

“Yeah, we won every game.” My phone starts to ring, and my dad’s name appears on the screen. This is not the first time he has called since Monday, but I don’t feel like rehashing the dinner, so I silence the ringer and place the phone in my pocket. “Why didn’t you and Donovan enter?”

“Wedding planning. He had us scheduled at like six different venues this week.” He shakes his head.

“Where did y’all—” I feel a sharp elbow in my ribcage. “What the hell, man?” I choke out, trying to breathe.

I look over at Tanner, who nods to the front of the restaurant. Standing by the door, I see Poppy and Lacey. Poppy looks as beautiful as ever. She is wearing a black dress that shows every curve of her perfect body.

I have been doing a shit job this week trying to forget about her, and now she is standing in the same restaurant as me. “Should we go say hi?” Tanner asks sarcastically. I take another bite of food.

“Is thatthePoppy?” Donovan asks from across the table.

“The one and only,” Tanner deadpans.

The hostess leads the girls to a table across the restaurant.

POPPY

I’mfull of nerves when Lacey and I walk into The Persian Kitchen. I must have spent double the time getting ready because this is the first time I will officially meet my new team of coworkers, and I want to make a good first impression. Lacey and I round the corner, heading toward the table where they all sit.

“Goodness, I’m nervous, Lace.”

She grabs my arm in hers and squeezes me in closer. “It’s going to be great, Pop. They are all so excited to meet you and you already kinda know a few of them.”

Lacey and I sit down at the table, and I look around to see five other women staring back in my direction. Across from me sits Chloe, the speech therapist from my interview.

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