Page 60 of My Heart Still Beats
“Or you could do the toast after dinner,” he says.
Yes! Saved by dinner. “After dinner, I think. Thanks, Terry.”
“Not a problem.” He eyes my drink. “I see you decided to try the cocktail after all.”
“Yeah.” I force out a laugh. “I mean, it’s a party, right?”
“It sure is.” He turns to Daniela, who’s ordering another drink and acting pretty giggly.
I sigh. I’m filing that under the heading ofnot my problem. What can I do? Daniela is over twenty-one, and it’s an open bar. It’s not like anyone has to drive anywhere.
I look toward the beach, and I’m surprised to see Skye there, holding a cocktail. She looks lovely in bright pink.
I approach her. “Doing okay?”
She smiles at me. “I should be asking you that.”
“Skye, come on. We’ve had this discussion. This weekend isn’t about me. It’s about you and Braden. We’re going to give you a great sendoff.”
“This party is gorgeous,” she says. “I can’t thank you enough.”
Guilt gnaws at me. I did nothing.
“How did you come up with this cocktail? It was a wonderful idea.”
“TikTok,” I lie.
I hate lying to her, but you can find anything on TikTok.
“I love the idea. I think maybe we’ll do this at the wedding, too. Have a Braden cocktail and a Skye cocktail.”
“It’s all the rage these days,” I say, hoping I’m right. I bring my cocktail to my lips without actually taking a drink. “I was thinking about saving the toast until after dinner. Is that okay with you?”
“Of course,” she says. “I like that idea. We’ll all be sitting down, and I don’t want to miss one word of what you’re going to say.”
I give her a weak smile. “Whatever you want, Skye.”
Ugh. Now Ireallyneed to think of something to say.
The truth of the matter is that Skye and I had a difficult time when she and Braden were getting serious. I was being a brat and feeling left out of her life. Betsy and I got close, but then Garrett happened… And at first, I was thrilled. Garrett and I seemed like a match made in heaven.
We met at a MADD gala that Skye attended for her employer at the time, mega-influencer Addison Ames. For some reason, I was drinking daiquiris that night. Banana daiquiris instead of my usual margaritas.
I’ll never drink a banana daiquiri again.
…
Several months earlier…
The band is playing Latin music, which I love, and I’m aching to dance and make a spectacle of myself in this gorgeous red dress, so when the handsome, dark-haired man approaches me, I’m ecstatic.
“Care to dance?” he asks.
“Sure.” I give him a dazzling smile. “Watch my drink, Skye.”
Skye always says that’s her job at clubs, to watch my drink. She hates clubbing, but we’re not at a club tonight. We’re at a charity gala, the music is awesome, and my legs want to move.
“What’s your name?” he asks once we hit the floor.
