“Ah. Bummer.”
The phone that called up to announce someone in the lobby began ringing. I watched through the open door as Laynie answered it. “Let’s go inside,” I said, not waiting for Norma to agree before heading in.
Laynie was just hanging up when I reached her. “Is someone else coming for dinner?” I’d thought our party was complete, and for some reason, I had a strange feeling about whoever had been on the phone.
“Yeah, I forgot to tell you. Chandler asked if he could join us. He’s on his way up right now.”
Fuck.
Norma and I exchanged glances.
Laynie’s eyes went wide. “Holy shit, you’re sleeping with him, aren’t you?”
“Wh—I—How did you get that from—?” I’m not really a good liar in the first place, and she’d caught me off guard so I was not prepared to cover.
“H said he thought you were. Goddammit. I said there was no way you wouldn’t tell me something like that.”
Hudson really was a perceptive bastard. I hadn’t ever realized it before.
And now I felt guilty about my Chandler relationship for another reason. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I should have told you. I didn’t want it to be weird. And we’re not any more. It’s over. Which is why tonight might be awkward.” Especially because I had a feeling he’d decided to come because of me. “You said he invited himself?”
Laynie’s shoulders slumped with realization. “Ah, fucknugget. He’s in love with you, isn’t he? You broke my little brother’s heart?”
“He’s not technically your brother. And if I did, it’s his own fault. I told him the—”
I was interrupted by the sound of the elevator doors opening.
Norma had the view that saw him first. “Chandler. Hi. Nice to see you.”
I forced a tight smile. “Chandler.” He’d dressed up and was wearing nice khakis and a dress shirt instead of his usual jeans. And he looked really good.
Dammit. Why couldn’t he be older or more mature or just…someone else?
“Gwen. I didn’t know you’d be here.” He did know I’d be there. I’d told him about my standing dates with Hudson and Alayna.
I scowled.
The door to the kitchen opened. “Ladies,” Hudson said, then noticed his brother. “And Chandler—the chef is ready to begin. She’d like us to start in here for sample tastings before she serves.”
“Looks like I have perfect timing,” Chandler said as Norma and Alayna filed into the kitchen.
I stepped closer to him. “You shouldn’t be here,” I hissed. “We’re over. Remember?”
“Don’t get so cocky, Gwenny.” Gwenny? He’d given me a nickname? “Maybe I’m here to spend time with my brother and his wife.”
“Is that why you’re here?”
He put a hand at the small of my back and leaned in toward me. “No. I came for you. I think you made too hasty of a decision yesterday. We should spend some real time together before you decide that we should be over.”
“Oh, Jesus.” He was even wearing aftershave. Too much of it, but the gesture was nice.
Except, he wasn’t what I wanted. He wasn’t who I wanted. And that made me frustrated and mean and miserable. Made me want to be bitchy just so he’d lose interest, but at the same time, made me want to just suck it up and try to be with him the way he wanted me to be.
“Are you two coming?” Hudson was still standing at the door. “Or should I direct you to the guest bedroom?”
Chandler grinned. With pride. “Up to you, Gwen.”
“I’m coming,” I snarled, heading past Hudson into the kitchen.
Behind me, I heard Chandler mutter, “Well, if you insist, I’m sure I could arrange that.”
Fuck my life.
***
Dinner was torture. Fuschia McDanahough, our chef for the night, turned out to be excellent at self-promotion and not so excellent at actually cooking. Worse than the food was Chandler’s constant groping under the table. He’d set his hand on my knee or sometimes my thigh, and I’d give him a sharp jab with my elbow. All of which did not go unnoticed by the others judging by the exchanged glances and the giggles that accompanied each of his advances.
Following dinner, Hudson slipped away to the library, as he usually did, leaving the women to, as he said, “do as women do.” This time, though, “the women” included Chandler, so while I often stayed late on my Thursdays with the Pierces, I was ready to go by the time I finished my after-dinner coffee.