Page 29 of Beautiful Dreamer

“Maybe someday.” Heather nodded like she’d beat Devyn at some sortof cool contest, which was fine because Devyn realized she seemed immune to whatHeather thought, a big improvement over the time she’d worn flats to the schooldance when Heather thought heels would have been the more sophisticated choice.She’d chastised herself for that decision for months afterward, and justthinking about it now made her uncomfortable.

The table switched to talk of the holiday auction, which seemedodd, as it was still late spring. But maybe they started early these days. Inthe midst of chatter about catering, donated excursions, and silent auctionitems that just had to be bigger this year than last, Devyn’s eyes roamed therestaurant. Then paused. Because standing in the doorway, looking for a table,was none other than Elizabeth. She had on slim-fitting jeans with a hole in theknee and a plain white T-shirt. A very basic outfit that looked way too goodfor what it was. Her brown-blond hair—she still couldn’t decide which itwas—was down and a little tousled. She’d wondered if that had been on purposeor a happy accident. She shook her head at what an interesting character shewas.

“What do you think, Devyn? Do people enjoy shrimp or steak more ata gathering?” Lisa asked, and pursed her red lips in anticipation of theanswer. That was a lot of lipstick right there.

She blinked. Replayed the question she’d missed the first time.“Uh…I’d say shrimp, but a combo couldn’t hurt. Depends on the chef.”

“She makes a valid point,” Coco said, and they were off again ontheir event planning. Devyn drifted back, locating Elizabeth sliding into abooth with a bald man with really impressive biceps.

“You remember Dexter,” Heather said, following her gaze. She thensignaled the waiter for more wine.

Devyn squinted and looked again. “That’sDexter? What in the worldhappened?”

“A total success story,” Cricket said, and fanned herself likeScarlett O’Hara in the heat of the day.

“With pillow lips to boot,” Coco added. Everyone turned to her.

“I knew it,” Lisa said, and shook her head. “I just knew it, youblatant whore.”

“What?” Coco grinned proudly and then pretended to wave away theattention. “I’m single now. I can mingle.”

Devyn tried not to cringe outwardly at that line. “So, are they athing? Dexter and Elizabeth?” Somehow that just didn’t seem to fit for her.Especially the way Elizabeth had leaned into her harmless flirting.

Heather laughed quietly. “No.”

Cricket leaned in. “No, Dexter’s a man about town, and Elizabeth’sgay, though I’ve never actually seen evidence of that.”

“Not true,” Coco said. “She follows after Thalia from the littlespa like a puppy dog. It’s cute, if it weren’t so sad.”

Lisa raised a finger. “Oh, and she had a girlfriend a couple ofyears back. Remember? The one with the really loud car that went vroom, vroom, chugga,vroom?”

“Oh, that’s right,” Cricket said vaguely, as if tasting somethingunpleasant she couldn’t place. “And the unfortunate slicked-back ponytail.”

“Always a ponytail with those girls,” Heather said, taking anotherdelicate sip.

Devyn squinted and swallowed her offense at the judgmental andinaccurate statement. Some battles weren’t worth it. Her thoughts returned toconfirmation that Elizabeth Draper was gay. This was entirely helpfulinformation. She turned back to Elizabeth and smiled. Good for her. It wasn’teasy to be yourself in a small town like this one. She knew firsthand and hadfailed miserably. Apparently, Elizabeth had conquered the fear in a way Devynhadn’t been able to, years back. Given, things were different now, sure, butstill. “Excuse me for a moment. I’ll be right back,” Devyn told her friends,who all exchanged a knowing look. Gay people were gathering. Imagine that.

When she approached Elizabeth and Dexter’s table, they werelaughing at something on Dexter’s phone. There was a lightness to their banter,a warmer vibe from where she’d just been, almost like stepping out of anuncomfortable rainstorm into a ray of sunshine. She exhaled and felt thetension melt away.

Elizabeth turned as Devyn landed at their table, and her greeneyes lit up. “Devyn, what the what? Hey. Wasn’t expecting to see you at Roo’s.”

She felt her features slide into an authentic grin. Elizabeth’snonthreatening persona had a way of putting her instantly at ease. “Hi. Didn’tmean to interrupt.”

“You’re not,” Elizabeth said. “Just me and Dex.”

Devyn shrugged. “I just saw the familiar faces and thought I’d sayhello.” Her gaze shifted from Elizabeth to Dexter. “Really nice to see youagain, Dexter. It’s been a while.”

He smiled and, without so much as a pause, stood and offered her afriendly hug. “Good to see you back in town. Hey, want to join us?” He slidover, making room in the booth.

Devyn passed a glance to her friends in the bar. The thought ofreturning to them wasn’t high on her list, though an inevitable socialresponsibility. “No, I couldn’t. You guys are having a nice meal together.”

“Which happens at least several nights a week,” Elizabeth informedher. “We’re an unconventional couple. We have a third wheel, but she’s marriedwith a kid and at home right now.”

“Really. Huh. Lot of women in your life, it seems,” she said toDexter with a playful smile.

He rolled up his sleeve to display a tattoo on his forearm thatreadBlessed.“It is what it is.”

“Are you sure?” Elizabeth asked. “We’d love to have you. You canshare our onion ring pile. It’s why we come here.”

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