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bullshit soft opening. Although, can’t say I regret that night one bit,” he added. I blushed, remembering the oh-so-wrong, but oh-so-right night of life-altering sex in his hotel room . . . and then in his hotel room’s pool . “Really, I don’t care about it,” David continued. “The hotel’s been open a couple weeks, and everything looks good.”
    My jaw clenched. “You’re going,” I declared. “This is a really big deal, and you have to be there, with or without me. I’m a big girl, I can take care of – ”
    He cut me off with his palms in the air. “All right. I’ll go. But I’m sure as hell not going without you. That is, if you’re up for it.”
    “I’m up for it,” I stated firmly.
    “Then unless you have a gown rolled up in that bag, we definitely need to go shopping.”
    My shoulders relaxed somewhat, and Gretchen bounced in her chair. “Fine,” I relented, and he gave me his amazing, boyish grin that I just about lived for.
    “Since my firm handles Revelin’s PR, I’ll be there too,” Gretchen said. “I’m bringing Greg.”
    I looked back at her. “What?” I exclaimed. “I thought you guys had broken things off because you went home with another guy. Are things back on?”
    “Yes,” she said with a shy smile. “He didn’t care about the other guy since nothing happened. It took a while, but he finally convinced me that this time is for good.”
    “For good?” I asked, my eyes big.
    “Yup. I’m tired of playing it safe. It really hurt when he left me the first time back in college, but I think I’m ready to move on from it. He says he’s changed, and I could either go on not believing him or take a chance. We decided a couple weeks ago to give it a real try.”
    I took her hand and smiled. “I’m so happy for you. I’m sorry I wasn’t around to talk to.”
    “You were around,” she said, “you just weren’t reachable.”
    “You can thank David for that,” I said, nodding at him.
    “We weren’t even speaking a couple weeks ago.”
    “Exactly.”
    He smiled and squeezed my leg again under the table, only higher this time. It sent a thrill up the inside of my thigh. Dazedly, I bit my lip, but he raised his eyebrows at me, jerking his head toward Gretchen.
    “Oh, right,” I said. “So we’ll make a night of it then, the four of us.”
    “Should I see if Andrew wants to come?” David asked. “I can put them on the list.”
    I shifted in my seat, and Gretchen looked down into her coffee cup.
    “What?”
    “Lucy isn’t . . . ” I trailed off.
    He lifted his chin. “Not too thrilled with us, I take it.”
    “That’s putting it mildly,” Gretchen muttered.
    He touched my cheek. “I’m sorry. You need her right now.”
    I shrugged helplessly. “She doesn’t agree with what we’re doing.”
    He dropped his hand and drummed his fingers on the table. “I’ll talk to Andrew,” he decided. He nodded at the bill. “Are you ready?”
    “Yes, but there’s something I need to do, and I’d really like to have Gretchen here with me.”
    “What is it, honey?” Gretchen asked.
    “Tell my dad.”
    She scooted closer with her chair and rubbed my back before looking at David. “Dad’s a little tough,” Gretchen told him. “He doesn’t suffer quitters well. Er, not that you’re a quitter, but you know what I mean.”
    “I know. It’s okay. Can I borrow your cell?”
    Gretchen took out her phone and after a minute of playing with it, handed it to me. “It’s ringing.”
    “You have my dad’s number?”
    “Of course, in case of emergency.”
    “Hello?” Dad said, loud and robust even through the phone.
    “Dad?”
    “Hello?” he repeated, even louder.
    “Dad! It’s me, Olivia.”
    “Liv, honey, what’s up? Whose phone is this?”
    “It’s Gretchen’s.”
    “Everything all right?” he asked.
    “Well, yes and no. Do you have a minute?”
    “Hang on, I’m on the course.” Muffled voices sounded in the background. “Go