Page 66 of Whatever It Takes

I patted her knee. “Don’t worry, you’ll be able to go back to eating all the food groups in no time. My biggest hang up when I was pregnant was no caffeine, and wine, of course.”

She stuck her tongue out. “Blah. This conversation is getting depressing. So, tell me all about you and this little girl of yours.”

We spent the next ten minutes catching up and exchanging parenting stories. Nora and I had always got along, and it was nice knowing that we could just pick up where we left off like two old friends.

“Listen, I gotta get back to my bridesmaid duties, but I wanted to get your number. I was hoping we could do lunch sometime.”

“I would love that,” I said, pulling out my phone and handing it to her so she could add herself to my contacts.

Once she was done, she handed it back to me. “Don’t forget to call me,” she warned.

“I won’t. I promise.”

“Great. We’ll catch up later.” She winked and strolled over to kiss her daughter on the head as she shoveled a fried mac-n-cheese bite into her mouth. Her husband, Dylan, was sneaking looks at his cell phone and looked like he would rather be anywhere else but here.

Our server placed the teriyaki salmon I’d selected down in front of me. For some reason the smell wasn’t sitting right with me. I put my fork down and lifted my water glass. My stomach felt a bit off. At first, I blamed it on my nerves. Now, after talking to Nora, I was starting to think it could be something else. I pulled out my phone, not paying any attention to the conversation around me, and checked my calendar.

I was only a couple days late. Nothing to be anxious about.

“So, Charlotte.” Thomas’s voice broke through my thoughts while he sliced his knife into his steak. “Quinn tells us that you’re teaching now.”

I pushed my plate away and broke off a piece of bread. “Yes, it’s just a temporary position until something more permanent pops up, which is fine, because I need the flexibility with everything going on in my life right now.”

I dipped the crust in the oil and wished I had kept my mouth shut. Why the hell did I have to go bring that up? They hadn’t seen me in years. This wasn’t the time to remind them of my fucked-up life with an estranged husband on the run.

“That’s understandable,” Ann Marie said. “Quinn mentioned that your daughter, Emery, just started second grade. He talks about her all the time.”

Her sincerity caught me off guard, but I went with it. “He’s been great with her. I don’t know how I would have made it through these past few weeks without him.”

“Well, hopefully we’ll get to meet her someday.” Thomas winked while Ann Marie nodded in agreement.

I swallowed. This reunion was going a lot better than I had planned on. “I would love that.”

Everybody polished off their plates while I sat and barely touched my fish. I was doing my best to stay occupied, but my hands kept finding their way to my stomach.

After posing for about a thousand pictures, Quinn finally made his way over to my table. He leaned down and kissed my cheek. “You look like you could use this.” He extended a glass of wine to me. I eyed the red liquid like it was poison as he held it high out of my reach. “You have to agree to dance with me first.”

Everyone paused their conversation. “Only if you promise not to step on my toes.”

He laughed while pulling me up from my seat. “I promise.” He kissed my cheek. “My dancing skills have improved over the years.”

If that comment was supposed to make me feel better, he needed to work on his lines. The last thing I wanted to think about was him dancing with other women.

“I’m warning you,” I said playfully as we found an open spot on the dance floor.

He spun me around before bringing me to his chest. It was hard and warm and it smelled like him. “You look beautiful tonight,” he said, placing his hand on my lower back and leading me across the dance floor with ease.

I reached up and threaded my hands around his neck as we swayed to Adele’s, “Make you Feel My Love.”

I relaxed into his arms, wishing we could stay just like this forever. There was no lingering tension, no hurt feelings or misunderstandings. Just two people in love, dancing to soft music in the background, enjoying each other’s company.

“I’ve always loved this song,” I said, pressing my cheek against his shoulder.

His face split into a knowing smile. “Why do you think I requested it?”

My steps slowed and I leaned my head back to look at him. Really look at him. “I know I shouldn’t be surprised that you remembered, but I am.”

“We had a lot of good times to remember.” He grinned, looking down at me. Even in my heels, I was no match for his tall frame. “And I’m never letting you go again.”

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