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“You knew about this?” Lucy shot back, redirecting her glare at Gretchen

“Some of it”

“David Dylan,” Lucy echoed “As in, my client, Andrew’s friend, Dani’s – ” Her eyes darted frantically over the table as she tried to find the word

“Yes,” I said softly “Your client, your husband’s friend and the man your sister was involved with”

“How did this happen?”

“I’ this on you both, but like I said, you’re my best friends” I looked between them “I need you now I need you there after I tell Bill”

“How?” Lucy repeated quietly

“David and I have aconnection I wish I could show you how I’, Luce, because it’s iood to me, and I love him, I do I don’t want to hurt him But with David, it’s different, it’s – ”

“Of course it’s different,” Lucy interrupted She held up her fingers to tick off each point “David is gorgeous Wealthy Char Experienced” Her hands flew up in exasperation “He knows exactly what you want to hear”

“You set him up with your sister,” I pointed out

“That’s so else entirely He knows she’s not the type you just fool around with”

“And I am?”

“No, but that’s irrelevant because you’re ?”

I just stared at her, htly

“He is a total player,” Lucy continued, her face contorting with disgust “I set him up with Dani so he could see that there are wo down for But he’s not the type of guy you leave your husband for Jesus Christ I e?”

She had pinpointed reatest insecurity and shoved it inall over hie of that What made me different? Was it because he’d had to chase me? Without evidence to deny Lucy’s clai my hands in my lap

“I’ve talked to him” We both turned to Gretchen “I’ve talked to David,” she said, “and this isn’t a game for him He is crazy about her He loves her He told me”

My skin prickled as I thought ofheart It gavein

“That’s utterly ridiculous” Lucy’s voice, hard-edged, cut into et what he wants What makes her different from the hordes of women he sleeps with?”

“It’s different because every time we’re in the same room, I can barely stand not to touch him, to feel him, to look into his eyes In his arms I feel safe I feel loved Not the way Bill loves me, but loved in a way that I could alive him my heart”

They both gaped at rasped at words “Wow,” she said softly “I never thought I would hear so like that come out of your mouth It’s sonot you It’s romantic and – and emotional”

I sighed my relief and nodded

“But I don’t think you’ve thought this through Youto be sick This is my fault” She put her head in her hands

“No, no I eht ent to the ballet Remember that, Andrew’s firm had tickets? David was there, and we had thisI never thought I’d say this, but it was like ere meant to see each other in that moment”