He hadn’t realized how much he missed her as a friend until now.
“It’s good to see you.” Blake ran a nervous hand over the back of his neck. “You look great.”
Cleo’s green dress matched the color of her eyes. Her skin gleamed beneath the lights and her hair fell in glossy dark curls past her shoulders. In fact, he noticed several guys checking her out from the corner of his eye.
“Thanks. So do you.”
There was an awkward pause.
Cleo cleared her throat. “How’s Shanghai?”
“It’s great!” Blake winced. That came out more enthusiastic than he’d intended. “Different, but…”
“Yeah.”
Another pause.
He couldn’t take it anymore. If he had to dance around the elephant in the room one more time, he’d scream.
It was time to man up and look that damn elephant in the eye.
“I’m sorry about the way I handled things before I left,” Blake said. “And for being MIA since then.”
“You’ve been busy.” Cleo fiddled with her clutch. “I hear you’re dating someone in Shanghai.”
His jaw tightened. I am going to kill Joy.
“I am.” This conversation was getting worse by the minute. “Cleo, I care about you. You’re one of my oldest friends. But we never worked as a couple. We both know that.”
Cleo’s cheeks paled. Her eyes swirled with a mix of sadness, resignation, and—panic? No. That didn’t make sense.
“I know.” Her smile looked forced. “I don’t blame you. You’re a good person, Blake, and it was good while it lasted.”
Relief fizzled through him. “Yeah, it was.”
“Why don’t we start over? Put everything behind us and toast to our friendship.” Cleo waved down the bartender. “Two shots of tequila,” she ordered.
Blake’s eyebrows shot up. Cleo rarely drank, and she hated tequila.
Nevertheless, his relief outweighed his surprise. He could tell Cleo wasn’t 100% over their breakup, but at least she was willing to try. She could have her pick of guys. She’d eventually move on, which meant his family would have to move on.
A two-ton boulder eased off his shoulders.
“Here’s to friendship.” Cleo raised her shot glass.
“To friendship.” Blake clinked his glass against hers and knocked back the drink. He laughed at Cleo’s grimace. “We could’ve had something other than tequila.”
“It’s fine.” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Let’s do another one. For old times’ sake.”
“Maybe we should pace ourselves.” His suggestion was as much for his own benefit as it was for Cleo’s. He should’ve eaten dinner before the party, but he lost track of time Skyping with Farrah. Now, his stomach turned at the thought of another shot.
Cleo clucked her tongue. “Shanghai has made you soft.”
Oh, hell no.
“Soft?” Blake narrowed his eyes. Yeah, his head was starting to spin, but his reputation was at stake here. “Soft, my ass.” He turned to the bartender. “Another round of shots. Make ‘em double.”
The lion dance ended to enthusiastic applause from the crowd.