Evelyn blinked. “In that case, I’ll have a…Vesper Martini.”
Alek grinned. “Shaken, not stirred, right?” He glanced at someone behind Evelyn, and a waiter stepped forward. “Did you hear that, Ed?”
“Vesper Martini, shaken, not stirred.” Ed clasped his hands behind his back. He inclined slightly to face Candace. “And for you, ma’am?”
“I’m driving, so I’ll have your sparkling lime iced-tea.”
“Excellent choice. And for you?”
Gwenn ordered a pineapple daiquiri, and Mark grumbled that he was fine with water. Alek asked for coffee with a splash of Bailey’s. The waiter nodded and slipped away to deliver their orders to the bartender.
No one spoke for a minute or two, then Mark broke the silence. “Where do you work, Candace?”
“I work at a community hospital.”
Mark leaned forward and rested his chin in his hand. His eyes sparkled with interest. “I see. And what do you do there?”
Candace turned her menu over and browsed the desserts. “I work.”
Mark frowned and leaned back against the booth. Gwenn elbowed him in the ribs, and he whispered, “What? It was only a question.”
Evelyn glanced at Alek, who was stifling a laugh. He noticed Evelyn watching and shook his head, then mouthed the words, “Mark is not smart.”
A laugh escaped Evelyn, and she tried to cover it up by coughing. Candace raised her menu to hide her face, and her shoulders shrugged up and down with silent laughter.
Mark, though dumb enough to attempt flirting with another woman right in front of his wife, had enough sense to realize they were laughing at him. He excused himself from the table, claiming he needed to use the restroom. Gwenn waited a few seconds before offering the same excuse and walking away, probably so she could ambush her husband when he exited the lavatory.
With his friends safely out of earshot, Alek chuckled and said, “They aren’t a perfect couple, but they’re decent people. Usually.”
Evelyn checked over her shoulder again and saw Sonya, Donny, and Vanessa entering the building. “Don’t worry, I think a contender for the title of ‘worst dinner guest’ just arrived.”
Alek raised an eyebrow.
“You’ll see.” Evelyn pushed her chair back and stood. She introduced her friends to Alek, and everyone shook hands except for Vanessa, who hung her thumbs in the pockets of her jeans and put on her least-sincere smile. Ed returned to fill glasses with ice water and take another drink order. Sonya and Donny ordered red wine, and Vanessa ordered a shot of wheatgrass.
“Wheatgrass,” Evelyn mumbled. “Is that kind of like a Grasshopper?”
Vanessa inhaled through her nose. “It’s so nice to see you, Eve. How have you been?”
Evelyn hated being called “Eve,” and everyone at the table but Alek knew it. Still, Alek sensed the tension and redirected the conversation.
“Thank you all for coming, despite the short notice. Is everyone hungry?”
Everyone nodded, and Alek repeated his assurance that the meal was free. In an instant, the mood at the table lightened. When Gwenn and Mark returned, there was another round of introductions, and Ed brought a tray of drinks. He placed the extravagant beverages in their proper places, then held the tray behind his back while he took the meal orders.
With Ed’s departure, another period of awkward silence set in. Evelyn twiddled her thumbs beneath the table and locked eyes with Alek again. He looked as uncomfortable as she felt and gave a barely perceptible shrug.
This time, Donny was the one to speak up. “How’s the painting coming along, Evelyn?”
She aimed a suspicious glance at her friend. “It’s…fine. I’m about halfway done.”
“You paint?” Alek asked.
Evelyn shook her head. “Not like that. I’ve been repainting my bedroom.”
A beat, then Alek said, “What color?”
“Twilight blue,” Donny answered for her. “About the same shade as her eyes.”
Mark and Gwenn exchanged glances. Candace let out an irritated sigh.
Evelyn focused her “twilight blue” eyes on her longtime friend, hurling mental daggers in his direction. “It’s not the same color as my eyes, but it’s better than purple.”
Alek folded his hands together, unfolded them, and glanced at his watch.
Donny kept his gaze on Evelyn. “I agree. Especially since it’ll match your comforter and curtains. And the bathroom towels.”
Evelyn’s jaw worked on its own, but she didn’t speak. What was he doing? Pranks were one thing, but this was something else—a side of him she’d never seen before. Was he jealous?
Coming to the rescue, Candace kicked Donny’s shin beneath the table and said, “Since when did you become an interior designer? Quit being weird, Donald.”
“Don’t talk to my brother like that,” Vanessa said.
Donny raised his hands in surrender. “Let’s all calm down. It was just an innocent question.”
Evelyn wasn’t convinced, but she wanted the drama to end, so she nodded and took a long sip from her drink. Mark and Gwenn hadn’t stopped whispering, and Alek looked like a lost and confused puppy.
Evelyn felt her chances with Alek slipping away. She needed to convince him that there was nothing between her and Donny. She opened her mouth to speak, but Donny leaned across the table. He patted her left hand and said, “I could help, you know. If I’m going to be living with you, I might as well start pulling my weight.”
Alek cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, did you say you two will be living together?”
Donny leaned back and crossed his arms. “Well, it’s up in the air still. But we’ve talked about it. Haven’t we, Evelyn?”
Tears were welling in Evelyn’s eyes. They had talked about living together, but only as roommates, so they could split the rent. “I…I…”
A snicker from the corner of the booth—from Mark.
Alek couldn’t hide his disappointment. He tugged his phone from his pocket and pretended to read a message. “I’m sorry, but something has come up. I really hate to do this, but I need to go.”
Evelyn started to stand, but Alek held up a hand.
“Don’t get up on my account. Please, enjoy your dinner. Ed has my credit card information, and he’ll charge any drinks or desserts you’d like to my account.”
Evelyn shook her head and tried to keep the tears welling in her eyes from falling. “Please, it isn’t like that.”
Alek extracted himself from the booth and smiled at her. “It’s okay. Really.” Backing away from the table, he said, “Take care, Evelyn.”
5
Evelyn Jameson stared at a twilight blue wall. Candace had begged her to spend another night on her couch, but she declined. For the first time in years, she wanted to be alone.
The betrayal stung like bleach poured over an open wound. She had trusted Donny for more than two decades. He had been there for her when she broke her wrist on the playground in first grade. He’d stood up for her when the other boys teased her for her glasses, and later for her braces. They’d stayed up all night together studying for college entrance exams. When her car broke down on the way to Florida, he’d driven three hundred miles to give Candace and her a ride home. He’d been there for her, helping her up and never standing in her way.
So, what the hell just happened?
After Alek left the restaurant, she pressed Donny for answers, but he just sat there with his arms crossed, not saying a word.