CHAPTER 39
CHANEL

“A double date,” I said. “Tommy wants to go on a double date.”

“That’s what he said. Tommy called me and said he wanted us all to do a double date.”

“Are you sure Ana isn’t the one calling it a date and making him say that in the process?” I asked.

“I’m sure. The first time they went out last week, Tommy called it a date too. Which isn’t odd for him, but it is odd for him to pick the girl up and take her out more than once.”

“So, he’s never actually dated a girl before,” I said.

“Come on. You’ve met Tommy. Does that statement really shock you?”

“I mean, if they want to do it, then I’m all for it. Do you think it’ll be weird?”

“Why would it be weird?” Rhett asked.

“I don’t know. It was just a question.”

“I think we’ll all have fun tonight,” he said.

“Tonight?”

“When did you think I was talking about?”

“I don’t know. Saturday? Next week sometime? If you want me to go out tonight, I’ve got to get on a roll with writing. I’ve got a lot to do today.”

“Then quit talking and get to writing,” he said with a grin. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“You’re not staying with me today?” I asked.

“If I do, you’ll never get anything done, and you know it.”

I smiled at Rhett, and then he kissed me before he left my apartment. Things with us were going well, even though it had only been a few days. He popped by with the spare key whenever he felt like it, and it always resulted in putting my work on hold. He was just so hard to resist, and sometimes, I needed a healthy dose of my muse to get my thoughts in order.

I worked through the rest of the day, updating my blog and working on a few projects. I was almost done with my research for the Miami Herald article, which meant I could start my week next week with drafting the first run of it. The sooner I could get that to them, the more time we had to tailor it down, and I wanted this piece to hit home for the city of Miami.

It was astounding, the number of homeless children this city had, and it was unacceptable to me that no one was doing something about the crisis.

I finished up my work and began getting ready for the night ahead. Tommy had put together a double date for the four of us, a night out at his favorite bar getting drinks and wings. My stomach was growling as I was getting ready, and I was slipping my shoes on as I heard my front door open. I stood in the doorway of my bedroom, waiting for Rhett to come around the corner and see me.

And when he did, his jaw dropped to the floor.

“Holy shit, Chanel. Where did that outfit come from?”

“You like it?” I asked.

I held out my arms and twirled around as his eyes raked over my body. I had gotten bold the other day and bought a new outfit, one I knew Rhett would love ripping off my body. It was a pair of high-waisted jeans that accentuated the dip in my waist and a crop top that cut dangerously low on my chest. There was a bit of skin on my midriff showing, and I paired it all with a pair of heels. Peep-toe black heels with bows on the front of them that flexed my legs and rounded out my toned ass.

I could see Rhett salivating as my eyes connected with his again.

“So, what do you think?” I asked.

“I think if we don’t get out of here right now, we never will,” Rhett said.

“Then come on, big boy. Time to go get us some wings.”

Ana whistled at me the moment I walked into the bar. She came over and hugged me, complimenting me on my outfit. She couldn’t believe I had put it together myself, and even Tommy was staring a bit in awe. I saw Rhett elbow him in the side, deflecting Tommy’s eyes long enough for Rhett to give him a look.

“Down boys,” I said. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”

“This place has the best wings,” Tommy said. “And all these beer pairings for whatever flavor you want your wings tossed in.”

“Sounds like my kind of place,” Ana said.

“Since when is this your kind of place?” I asked.

“Since Tommy introduced it to me last week,” she said.

“Are the wings as good as he says they are?” I asked.

“I can vouch for them, yes,” Rhett said.

“So, I’m the only one here who hasn’t eaten their wings yet?”

“Yes,” all three of them said.

“You know, I never would’ve thought this cruise would’ve brought us all together like this,” Ana said.

“When I was walking off the ship that last day, I was determined to try and put it all behind me,” I said.

“I guess that cruise did us more good than bad,” Rhett said.

“I’d say so,” Tommy said as he eyed Ana up and down.

“I know that look. Let me eat first. We can take the party back to your place after,” she said.

“My place? I figured we could go back to yours,” Tommy said.

“Are you guys really fighting over where you’re going to have sex tonight?” I asked.

“Did you really just ask that question?” Rhett asked.

“It’s a valid one. I don’t want to listen to them debate what surface is more durable for Ana’s ass all night,” I said.

“Right now, it’s Tommy’s kitchen counter,” Ana said.

“We learned the hard way with hers,” Tommy said.

I threw my head back and laughed as the waitress came to take our orders. We all ordered the beer pairings recommended for our flavors and sank into an easy flow of conversation. As I looked around the table, taking in how this cruise had somehow brought all of us together, I smiled. I allowed myself to fall silent as I took in the moment, allowing my mind time to soak it up. I wanted to remember as much of it as I could. I wanted to remember how happy I was in this moment, how perfect everything seemed and how things somehow turned out for the better.

“You okay over there?” Tommy asked.

“You’ve been pretty quiet,” Ana said.

“Do you need anything?” Rhett asked.

“I’m just thinking,” I said. “About that last night on the cruise. I spent the entire time crying with Ana and wishing I’d never gone, but it somehow turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. Despite everything with Luke and what happened on Curaçao, I’m shocked to say I wouldn’t take any of it back.”

The four of us held up our beer bottles and clinked them together as our wings were set in front of us.

“So, Chanel. What did you do with your blog?” Tommy asked.

“It’s back on track. I decided to take a smoother route with updating them on how the cruise went. You know, ‘life’s too short’ and ‘sometimes reminiscing about the past moves you forward’ kind of stuff,” I said.

“And she posted lots of pictures,” Ana said.

“So many pictures,” I said.

“Well, my marketing ideas are doing well,” Ana said. “I took a couple of them to the board already, and they’ve dropped three different projects in my lap. I’m swamped but excited.”

“Ana, that’s awesome! Can you talk about the projects yet?” I asked.

“Not yet, but once I get to a point where I can, I definitely will. They are huge projects. I’m so excited. On another note, you’ll never guess what Tommy asked me to do last night.”

“Ana, do we have to bring this up with them?” Tommy asked.

“Now I have to know. What did my dear friend ask of you?” Rhett asked.

“He asked me to move in with him last night,” Ana said.

“Man, was the head that good?” I asked.

Ana threw a chicken bone at me as I laughed.

“Well,” Rhett said, “are you?”

“I’m thinking about it. I mean, it puts me a little farther away from work, but it also puts me in the heart of one of the most beautiful places in Miami. I think I’d enjoy the views,” Ana said.

“So would I,” Tommy said with a grin.

“You do realize you guys have only been doing this weird dating thing for a couple of weeks, right?” Rhett asked.

“So? It felt right, so I asked her,” Tommy said.

“I’m just shocked, man. That’s all. Happy for you but shocked,” Rhett said.

“I still think the head was that good,” I said.

“I’m gonna throw my beer at you,” Ana said.

“I’d like to see you try,” I teased. “But really, guys. I’m happy for you too. Ana, if it’s what you want, I say go for it. If there’s anything this insane cruise taught me, it’s to go after what you want no matter what others around you say.”

“Damn straight,” Ana said.

“So, is that a yes?” Tommy asked.

“Depends. Can we go back to your place after dinner?”

“Of course,” Tommy said.

“Then, I’ll move in with you,” Ana said.

The two of them kissed as my hand found Rhett’s underneath the table. As I watched my best friend kiss the man I knew she’d come to love, my heart soared for her. Never in a million years did I think I would ever see her settle down with someone. I looked up into Rhett’s face and saw the same shock and awe rolling across his features.

I couldn’t believe they had done it, but I was happy they had.

“This calls for a celebration,” I said.

“What kind of celebration?” Rhett asked.

“The kind that involves chocolate cake,” I said. “Do they have chocolate cake here?”

“If they don’t, we could go to that restaurant we always go to for coffee and desserts, Chanel. I think that place is open until, like, eleven or midnight,” Ana said.

“See, now I’m salivating, and you have to take me,” I said.

“I’ll take you anywhere you want,” Rhett said.

I looked up into his eyes and saw his lips approaching mine, encompassing mine with a sweetness that overpowered my want for cake.

“On second thought, maybe we could do the cake tomorrow,” I said.

“Sounds good to me,” Rhett said. “Sounds more than good to me.”