by Jillian Dodd
When she says Danny’s name, my heart skips a beat, but I hold my tongue and don’t ask about him. I need to be polite and get caught up with her first.
She scrolls to another photo of two little boys. “Ryder and Madden are nine and six.”
“They are adorable. Such a mix of you and Phillip.”
“They are each amazing in their own way. It’s so crazy how, with hot sex and some genetic mixing, you have this little human. They look related, but it’s just weird how they have such distinct personalities and looks.” She gets a big smile on her face. “Here’s one of Phillip and Danny out on the boat recently.”
I examine this photo a little closer. Both guys are shirtless and still quite droolworthy. A flashback of that kiss on the beach floods my thoughts. That’s how I have always referred to it—that kiss. The only kiss in my life that has ever mattered.
“Juggling a family and two busy careers is definitely challenging,” Jadyn says, leading me to believe I must have asked her something in my Danny-memories-induced haze. “But we make it work. We’ve been creative, and it’s why we splurged on the plane.”
“The corporate plane? It’s, like, yours?”
“Technically, the ownership is split between my company and Phillip’s. We were spending way too much time in airports. And there was a tax thing that allowed us to write off a large portion of it, so the timing was right. It’s helped immensely.”
“When we met, you were working for Phillip and designing a building or something, right?”
“Yes, and now, I own a commercial engineering and architectural design firm that does work all over the country. I sort of specialize in corporate headquarters but, recently, I did a small call center. The owner of that company was so impressed, he asked me to redesign his hotel chain. Hotels were something I’d never tackled before, so I agreed to do one and see how it goes. That’s why I’m in town.”
“Wow, so you’ve done well.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“And Phillip’s company?”
“Still white-glove deliveries, which is booming due to both internet shopping and the fact that Phillip could sell ice to an Eskimo.”
“Well, he is pretty cute,” I say. “That never hurts.”
“Initially, that was true. But he’s built a great sales team. His dad retired a couple of years ago, making Phillip the CEO, so he doesn’t sell much anymore.”
The appetizers are delivered to our table.
“Can I get a shot?” I ask the waiter.
“Sure. What would you like?”
“Do you want one?” I ask Jadyn.
“Of course.”
“Bring us something strong but that doesn’t taste like alcohol,” I request. Then I start chowing down on the food, suddenly ravenous. Both for good food and a good life. I can’t wait to get out and start living my life again. That makes me blurt out, “Do you know anyone who has kids that did it themselves?”
“Like a single mom?” Jadyn asks. “Of course. I try to hire moms in my business whenever I can. Moms get work done fast.”
“And they do okay? Like, their kids turn out okay?”
She studies me. “Did Troy not want children?”
“He said we were too busy. Traveled too much. It was a subject of contention between us, but I never pushed it. My father was an alcoholic.” I lower my voice a notch. “So is Troy. He’s always struggled with sobriety, and what you’ve seen in the tabloids was the result of a binge.”
“Motherhood is amazing,” she says. “Whether you have them yourself or adopt. Our friends Katie and Neil have two biological children and two who are adopted. You’ll get to meet them on Sunday. We’re having a big get-together at our house.”
“That’s soon. Are you ready?”
She stifles a laugh. “Most of our entertaining is pretty casual. Everyone brings food. It’s about hanging out, not creating the perfect party.”
“That’s amazing.” I’m ready to ask about Danny when the waiter brings the shots, interrupting our conversation.
“Lemon drop shots with sugared lemons, made with citron and regular vodka,” he says. “Technically, a double shot.”
“Perfect,” I say, quickly slamming it down before I notice that Jadyn has her glass in the air.
I’m an idiot.
“If you’re going to hang out with us,” she says, “you’ll have to get used to the fact that we toast all the time. It’s Danny’s fault really. When he, Phillip, and I drank our first beers in eighth grade, he toasted to the good life. We’ve been toasting to our good lives ever since.”
“Has Danny’s life been good?” I blurt out.
“Yes, and no,” she says.
And it gives me hope. For what, I’m not sure.
“Danny is an optimist. To be a good quarterback, he has to be. For example, when he threw an interception or an opposing team cheered loudly, he always pretended—” She laughs. “Actually, knowing his ego, he probably actually believed they were cheering for him. It’s why he’s so levelheaded on the playing field. Things are not as bad as they seem, and he can overcome it. He’s a hard worker, and he gives his all to everything he does in life. Always has.”
“I’ve seen his underwear ads. So, is his life as perfect as his body?”
“No one’s life is perfect, Jennifer,” she replies.
I nod and toss another shrimp in my mouth, hoping she’ll continue.
“My parents passed away at the end of my senior year in high school, and I was determined to live life to the fullest—probably going a little overboard in that regard. I dated a lot. Partied a lot. Had a good time. Because of Danny and Phillip, I hung out with a lot of guys.
“Lori was in my sorority, but we weren’t friends at first. She acted like she was above it all. I always wondered why she even rushed. But a few years passed. She loosened up a little, and we became sort of unlikely friends.
“I introduced her to Danny at a party, but she wouldn’t give him the time of day. She wanted to get her medical degree and marry a doctor. No room in her life plan for a cocky jock. She knew zero about football, and even though he was like a campus god, she didn’t care. I literally had to bribe her just to go on a date with Danny. He liked her because she was pretty and smart, and she wasn’t impressed that he was an athlete.
“They fell in love and dated for a year. He got drafted, and they were engaged and married within a couple of months. A few months after that, she was pregnant. Phillip and I got married and pregnant not long after, and our babies were born just five months apart …”
“It feels like you’re about to say, but then …”
“That’s because I am. But then things started changing. Her not going to medical school was big though. Supposedly, it was her lifelong dream, but she gave up her spot the second she got married. Then she had a rough pregnancy. I felt bad for her, but she also seemed to use it as an excuse for just being kind of bitchy. Toward the end of her pregnancy, some photos of Danny and me together were leaked in the press. The photos showed us having lunch, shopping together at a jewelry store, and then checking into a hotel. I had helped him plan a special night for her. I had a million candles in my bag, and he had bought her a spectacular piece of jewelry. Granted, based on the photos and if you didn’t know us, you might think something was going on, but she should have known better. And I get that she was hormonal and irrational, but she went ballistic and said some horrible things to both of us. It was a mess. I thought they might break up before the baby was even born.
“They made up and had the baby, and life seemed okay. Well, not really. She was a wreck after the baby, too. And she wouldn’t let Danny help. Got mad if he did something she thought was wrong even though she had no clue what she was doing. A few months after the baby was born, Danny was miserable. His wife was wound up tight and constantly on edge. He talked her into a date night, and Phillip and I watched Devaney.”
“That’s such a cool name,” I interrupt.
>
“Danny came up with it. I was impressed.”
“After a former coach, right? I think I read that in an interview about the photo of Danny and his daughter after his team won the world championship game.”
“Wasn’t that the best photo ever? So much raw emotion,” she gushes. “I blew it up and framed it for him. And I have a smaller version of it in my office.” She pauses and takes a bite of shrimp, chews, pats her lips with a napkin, and continues, “Anyway, they had a great night out, and when they came to pick up the baby, I was hopeful that things would be better between them. But then Lori got pissed because, while they were out, we’d run out of breast milk. I had gone to their house, but there was no extra, so we gave the baby a little formula. I was pregnant and knew I wanted to nurse, but I had read up on it and knew, on occasion, it was fine to mix formula into the baby’s diet. And it was sort of an emergency. The baby was hungry. And she was colicky and didn’t sleep much. Turns out, she was allergic to something Lori had been eating, and that’s why her tummy always hurt, and she wouldn’t sleep; that is what led them to figuring it out. Regardless, Lori got crazy upset, started yelling at me, and told me I would be a terrible mother.”
I see the hurt in Jadyn’s eyes, even now, years later. It makes me want to punch Lori in the face.
“Phillip basically kicked her out of our house,” she says, practically swooning at the thought.
That’s what I want. A guy who will protect me. Who will stand up for me.
“She and Danny got into a huge fight, and he didn’t go home that night. I thought it might be over. But they made up again. Even though she didn’t work outside the home, Danny hired a nanny and a housekeeper to help her. I’d like to say that she became less of a bitch, but that’s not true. She became an entitled bitch, but thankfully, she bitched less at Danny, which made him happier.” She takes a sip of water. “I feel like I’m doing all the talking. I don’t intend to tell you their life story, but it’s important that you understand where Danny’s been, so you can understand where he is now.”
“Keep going,” I say with a nod because I want to know every single shred of detail about Danny’s life.
I want to hear I made the right decision back then, that it all worked out and that he’s deliriously happy now. Because he deserves it. But, if I’m being honest, there’s a big part of me that wishes he were miserable. That he would divorce his wife, so he could live happily ever after with me.
Jadyn’s phone vibrates on the table. “I’m sorry. It’s my family. We video chat before bed.” She glances at her watch. “As usual, Phillip has let them sweet-talk him into staying up too late. Do you mind?”
“Not at all.”
I watch as she answers. We’re sitting close in a booth meant for lovers, so I can see her screen. Her children are adorable.
They all yell, “Hi, Mommy,” over the top of each other, the youngest jumping up into the screen.
“It’s late there. You should all be in bed,” she scolds.
“Daddy and Uncle Danny took us out for pizza and beer!” her daughter says. “We played video games for hours. And I beat Damon at air hockey!”
She throws her arm up in a fist pump and hits one of the boys in the head. When he punches her back, she just grins.
“But we had to do our homework before we went,” Chase, the oldest says, clearly sticking up for his dad.
“I’m glad you had a fun night. Now, get to bed. Sweet dreams. I love you.”
There is a chorus of, “I love you.”
She smiles at her children, her love for them apparent, but when Phillip’s face comes on the screen, that look changes to something different—desire mixed with deep love. Their chemistry is still as off the charts as I remember.
The way it was with me and Danny.
“You’re in trouble for keeping them out so late,” she says, but it’s clear she’s not really mad.
“You can punish me when you get home,” he says with a sexy grin. We hear a scream and then a wailing sound in the background. “Duty calls, I’ve gotta go. Love you, princess.”
She smiles at the phone as she hangs up and says to me, “See? Chaos.”
“I love that he still calls you princess,” I say, practically swooning. But then I hear someone say my name. I look in their direction as a camera flashes in my face.
“Would you like to make a statement regarding the Brothel Debacle?” a reporter says, sticking a mic in my face.
Oh, gosh, they now have a catchy name for it.
“Yeah,” I say, not caring anymore, “here’s my statement.” I salute him with my middle fingers, which he takes a photo of before he’s escorted out by security.
The manager comes over to our table and begins to apologize to me. But he stops mid-sentence upon noticing Jadyn and looks completely horrified. “Mrs. Mackenzie, I didn’t know you would be dining with us this evening.” He looks at her like she’s the celebrity.
“I didn’t know I would be either, Lawrence, but Jennifer and I are old friends, and I called her on a whim after our meeting today.”
“Is the Royal suite suitable? Is the staff taking good care of you?”
“The suite is what I envisioned, based on the photos.” Jadyn gives him the kind of smile that seems to put him more at ease. “And I’d like to compliment you. I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with a lot of your staff, and many of them have been here for years. That tells me you make it a great place to work.”
“I didn’t feel comfortable about asking this in the meeting,” he confides, “but is the hotel really getting torn down?”
“That’s the plan. It’s too bad really. It’s a wonderful old place with a lot of character. Hopefully, I can design a new building that will honor its history.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I appreciate that, but it makes my heart hurt.” He shakes Jadyn’s hand, departing as our waiter arrives with our food.
We’ve only taken a few bites when a distinguished-looking gentleman appears. He looks familiar, but I can’t seem to place him.
“I see you turned down my dinner offer for a much more beautiful companion,” the man says to Jadyn.
“Jennifer, I’d like you to meet Tripp Archibald,” she says, introducing us and causing me to suddenly realize who he is.
His family, based in Kansas City, made millions in the finance industry, which Harold “Tripp” Archibald III parlayed into billions in, well, every industry.
“I understand you are staying at my hotel,” he says to me. “I’m sorry about what’s been going on in the press. I’m curious though. What made you come here?”
“Jadyn said she was staying here,” I answer honestly.
“And would you have chosen this hotel otherwise?” he inquires.
Nothing like being put on the spot. “Um, it’s a lovely old hotel,” I reply diplomatically.
“Exactly,” he says, turning toward Jadyn. “Jennifer is the client I want to come here—to seek refuge from the press, to relax in privacy, to be treated like royalty. The way it used to be.”
“I got taken up in a dingy service elevator,” I blurt out, causing Tripp’s eyes to bulge. “But it’s okay. The valet was wonderful. When I got here, I looked pretty bad. I had on slippers. It’s been a rough week.”
“I understand that, and I appreciate him taking care of you. What I don’t appreciate is that he was forced to take you in a service elevator for privacy. We have to change that.”
“If I do this project,” Jadyn says, “and I’m still not sure I’m the right person for the job, it’s going to be ridiculously expensive. The staff has already started sending me their wish lists, and I’m going to need to hire a lot of expert consultants—from wedding and event planners to celebrity assistants and studio heads.”
“And that’s exactly why you are right for the job.” The man gives Jadyn a beaming smile. “I’ll let you enjoy your dinner, ladies. Have a wonderful evening.”
“Holy crap,” I say. �
��I can’t believe I just met the Tripp Archibald. I hear he’s quite the ladies’ man. I think he has a crush on you.”
“He has a crush on my company’s designs, ethics, and profitability. I know his reputation, but when it comes to work, he’s all business. He and Phillip have become friends, sort of. Actually, he is trying to acquire Phillip’s company.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Except that Phillip doesn’t want to sell—at least, not under the terms that have been proposed.”
A sommelier comes back, bearing a bottle of wine. “Compliments of Mr. Archibald. And I might add, one of the best wines in our cellar. You must be very special guests.”
“I’m here with a big shot,” I tease.
She rolls her eyes. “I’m not going to talk work. And you need to eat.”
We eat dinner in a comfortable silence, savoring the incredible wine and delicious food. By the time we’ve had dessert and finished our wine, I’m raring to go.
“You’re in the Royal suite. We should have a par-tay!” I say.
“Who do you want to invite to this party?”
I suspect she hasn’t drunk nearly as much of the wine as I have.
I slump back in my seat when I realize I can’t think of anyone.
“I think you should skip partying and get a good night’s sleep. You’ve had just the right amount of wine to have you sleeping like a baby.”
“You planned this?”
She smirks. “Maybe a little. You look like you haven’t really slept in days. It’s like giving a baby some Benadryl before a long drive—something that has to be timed perfectly.”
“Let’s go upstairs then.” I give in, suddenly feeling the weight of the last few days.
When we’re in the elevator, I say, “When you tear down this hotel, can you leave the bar? It was cozy. I loved it.”
Although I’m pretty sure it was because of the company, not just the decor.
October 26th
Jennifer
“How did your meeting go?” I ask Jadyn as we take our seats in the plane and prepare for takeoff.
