But it only made sense that Priscilla had been told first. This was Easton's work, and she was a big part of his work life. Like Easton had said, this was changing the way Priscilla would make a living. Wait, did this mean Priscilla was going to be a part of this new venture as well? Would she move to Saratoga?
My stomach clenched at the thought.
"So what does Priscilla think now?" I asked as nonchalantly as I could.
"She's on board. I talked to her about the benefits of staying in one place; she'll be able to actually live in a home instead of in hotel rooms. She'll now be producing an experience center instead of new exotic adventures. She sees the vision," Easton said grinning, and I knew I had to return the facial expression.
I tried to relax my face, even though all I wanted to do was scrunch it in disgust. I could produce an experience center. Who needed Priscilla? Never mind that I had absolutely no idea what producing an experience center entailed, but I could learn.
No, relax the face, Josie.
I did so and then thought about how delighted I was with this new venture and the fact that Easton would now be home full-time. He'd no longer be putting his life on the line for his work, and a real smile finally came over my face.
"I am really happy for you," I said honestly, not adding, I just wish Priscilla wasn't part of the deal.
"Your opinion means everything to me, Jos," Easton said, and I felt myself melt even as I had to turn away from our intimate conversation. Too much time like this was never good for keeping my secret safe.
When I turned back to the group at large, Whit caught my eye and grinned. It was only then that I was reminded I still had to kill her for the date she'd set me up on. It seemed that she’d just remembered the same thing too. Well, the date, not the killing part.
"Wait, so we didn't get to hear. How was your date, Josie?" Whit asked from her seat, loud enough that most of the table turned to hear what I had to say.
"My date?" I gave Whit a tight smile. "I almost forgot. I still owe you big time for that," I said as my friends leaned forward, waiting for my next words. I’d decided that since I would never actually harm Whit, making her think things had gone better than they had was the next best thing. Too bad I'd have to take all of my friends on the ride, but they'd forgive me. Well, all except Easton. I could imagine him swallowing his mirth as he watched me try to sell this date as good, even for a sentence.
"I knew it would go well," Whit exclaimed. "Harry is such a nice guy."
And she would think that for about half a second more. Well, I had to admit Harry was still a nice guy. Kind of. But she would know that things had not gone well at all.
"He invited me to his grandmother's eightieth birthday party and let his family believe we'd been dating for a long time, on the verge of getting engaged," I said.
Whit's eyes went wide as Sophia's mouth formed an O.
"Yeah," I said. "It actually got worse from there."
Whit shook her head, and from across the table, Holly gasped.
"She stole a family heirloom," Easton jumped in, and I gave him a glare that really held no fire. I knew I'd have to get to that part of the story at some point, and I was slightly relieved to not have to say the words aloud.
"No," Sophia said, her eyes now matching Whit's look of disbelief.
I nodded. "Yup. You'll have to return it for me, Whit," I deadpanned.
Whit nodded immediately. "I'm so sorry, Josie. He really is so nice. And he was talking about wanting marriage and a family. He seemed like the real deal," she said.
"And he's cute," Sophia added.
Whit, and even I, had to agree with that sentiment. Harry was cute. Just not cute enough to overcome that kind of a first date.
Easton began to laugh, and most of the table joined him. Only Whit held out.
"It's really okay, Whit," I said when I realized she was distressed over what she'd done. I wasn't really angry with her. Annoyed at the situation, sure, but not angry with sweet Whit. I knew she hadn't set me up with a dud on purpose. The girl was determined to get me over my feelings for Easton, and it was why I'd said yes in the first place. She was nearly as invested as I was in finding a guy that could make me forget I was in love with my best friend.
"I can't believe I added to your first date horror file," Whit said.
I nodded but then smiled. "I think your set up made my top ten," I said, and Whit began to laugh.
"No," she exhaled with a shake of her head.
I nodded slowly. "Yup. You beat out guy who brought his mom with him."
Our table erupted into laughter again because they were all well acquainted with my dating disasters. The laughter only died down when a shriek sounded from the other side of the room, and we all turned to see what was going on.
"Oh my gosh! It's Easton Price!" A woman rushed across the restaurant and pushed her way into the small space between Easton's and my chairs.
"Lovely," Rider, our resident doctor, muttered from the other side of the table, causing Holly, who sat next to him, to giggle. We'd all experienced more than a few overzealous fans, thanks to years of friendship with Easton and Hunter.
The woman began to pat Easton on his shoulders and arm as his eyebrows went up in alarm. A loyal subscriber to Easton's channel was one thing, but this woman's admiration, or maybe a stronger word would’ve been more appropriate, was beyond what he normally experienced. His demeanor stayed calm even as his eyes filled with apprehension.
I wasn't sure what to do to help, but I had a feeling Easton would need me soon.
Apprehension was replaced with a glint of mischievousness in those beautiful green eyes not a moment later. It took me point two seconds to realize Easton was no longer the one in danger. And when his eyes turned to me, I knew I was.
Easton, in a way that only he could, moved the woman from between us so that she now stood behind both of our chairs. As he moved the woman away, he pulled my chair as close to him as it could go and then tugged on me slightly, enough that I went tumbling into his lap.
So here's the thing about being in love with your best friend. My heart could get confused ... really confused. Like in the instant I fell into Easton's lap, I knew why he'd done it, and my mind tried to explain to my heart that this move was purely survival for Easton. If he didn't want that woman curling up in the same way I was now, flush against his chest, my head tucked under his chin, he needed me to be there. But even as my mind explained all of this to my heart, my poor, foolish heart argued that he wanted me there. He didn't want that other woman; he wanted me. It didn't care that my mind was saying that woman was a stranger ... and maybe a bit insane. Because my heart countered that there were several other female friends at our table. But Easton had chosen me.
As my mind and heart battled, I let myself hold Easton a little tighter and just pretend that, for once, my heart was right.
"Oh," the woman said as she looked from Easton to me and then back to Easton. Desire still radiated off of her as she spoke much too much with her eyes. I knew she was telling Easton that he could do so much better than me ... like her. But even as she was so blatantly rude in her demeanor, I couldn't bring myself to care. Because I was the one in Easton's arms. He’d chosen me. And I knew, if given the choice, he'd choose me again. He always chose me above his girlfriends.