Tangle (Dogwood Lane 2)

Dad claps my shoulder as he laughs again. “Always pick a woman who scares you a little. They keep you in line that way.”

I take a drink from a server as he walks by. “I don’t want to be kept in line.”

“You will. When you meet the right woman, you’ll appreciate the help in making sure you don’t screw up your life.”

Haley laughs as she and Meredith walk to the table. They sit, Haley’s mouth going a mile a minute.

I’m not surprised she fits in here, but I am surprised at how seamlessly she’s done it. As she sits with my father’s wife like they’re old friends, I wonder what it would be like to walk in here on a Sunday afternoon to this. Or on Christmas Eve with a few kids playing on the floor and a few hundred rolls of wrapping paper strewn around.

I shiver. Dad laughs. I drink half the liquor in my glass.

“I think,” Dad says carefully, “that you got me the best gift out of everyone.”

My attention is dragged from Haley at the table to my father. “Uh, I didn’t bring you anything. Sorry.”

“No, you did.” He smiles coyly.

“You mean the party? You’re welcome.”

“I mean that look in your eye, son.”

I scoff. “There’s no look in my eye, old man.”

“As you just so kindly pointed out, I wasn’t born yesterday.” He tosses me a wink, one of those gestures that dads do that lets you know they’re way smarter than you.

I’m not sure what he sees in my eye, and I’m completely sure I don’t want to be kept in line by a woman. I like spice and variety, and that will do me for years to come. But Dad did too. He had a revolving door after the divorce from Mom. Until Meredith.

Seeing him and Meredith standing together, seeing how their love seemed so similar . . . genuine, has made me wonder. He’s truly happy, and I think Meredith is too. Maybe he needed the right person to step in and open his eyes. As Dad moves away to talk to other guests, my eyes naturally swing to Haley.

I think about taking her home tomorrow.

That she doesn’t need résumé help anymore.

That the house is wrapping up and doesn’t need me anymore.

That there’s no reason for me not to walk away anymore.

CHAPTER TWENTY

HALEY

This is the time I usually check out of these parties.” A man saunters up to the kitchen island and takes a caramelized fig with bacon. He’s cute in a basic kind of way and has a friendly smile. “But I’m here for these things.”

I laugh as he takes a bite and pretends to melt. “Those are so good. I think I’ve eaten ten tonight. Or fifteen.”

“This is my eighth, so not far behind you.”

I smile at him, grateful for the distraction. The party has gone on for what feels like forever. My feet are starting to hurt in my heels, and I’d kill someone for a hot bath and a book.

I’d also kill for Trevor to come back.

For the most part, Trevor has been the perfect partner for tonight. Attentive, always ensuring I’m not left out in conversations, making me feel as though I belong here. I’d almost convinced myself he is right and that maybe, just maybe, some of the doting tonight isn’t because he wants his family to believe we are together.

Almost.

“There’s a fig cocktail around here somewhere too,” I offer.

“What is it with these people and figs?” He laughs. “Must be a thing for rich people because I’ve never been to a party with figs. Or caviar tartlets. Did you even know tartlets were a thing?”

“I did not,” I say. “I’ll be honest, and don’t judge me for this, but most of the parties I attend feature the combination pizza rolls.”

He chokes, grabbing a napkin and covering his mouth. His eyes water as he catches his breath. “I love that you specified the combination ones. Everyone always goes for the plain pepperoni.”

“Right?” I say, scanning the area for Trevor. “I usually go for pepperoni pizza, but the combination pizza rolls are where it’s at.”

“I concur.” He plops the rest of the bite in his mouth.

I swish the water around my glass as he chews. My stomach is uneasy. I think it has less to do with the figs and more to do with Trevor.

A striking woman in a red dress arrived about an hour ago. I caught her staring at me while talking to an edgy-looking Jake. Then a little while ago, unless I’m paranoid, I caught Trevor following her outside.

It was Liz. It had to be.

I take a deep breath and force the image from my mind. I was, after all, brought here because of her. Maybe it was less to keep her away and more to make her jealous. After all, I haven’t known Trevor very long. Maybe he saw me as an easy solution to what’s really going on with him and Liz.