"Shoe department, Nordstrom. What do you think?"
"You can show us later. How did you know it was Carter's ex? Or did she know you?"
"She had that what's-her-name with her. Cousin of the groom from Saturday's event. She recognized me. And they're both giving me the once-over, which I resent. I seriously resent, and the what's-her-name is giggling, and 'You two should compare notes.' Asinine bitch."
"And doesn't it strike you as strange and coincidental," Parker said, "that the evening of the same day you just happen to find her at Carter's? Does no one else smell plot?"
Laurel and Emma raised their hands.
"Oh, Jesus Christ." Disgusted, Mac lowered to a stool. "She played me. I was too stunned and mad and, okay, jealous, to see it. But, what, she didn't know I was going over there. So-"
"I think that was just icing. I know her a little, remember," Emma reminded Mac. "She's always had the 'I want what you want, but more I want yours.' She probably went over just to see if she could take him away from you, and then-"
"I give her a bottle of wine." Mac dropped her head in her hands. "I'm an idiot."
"No, you're not. You're just not mean and calculating, like she is. And neither is Carter," Parker said. "He wasn't with her, Mac. She was just there."
"You're right. You're absolutely right. And I walked away, left her the field. But he introduced us."
"Mishandled, I'll grant you." Parker nodded. "What do you want to do?"
"I don't know. It's too much. Emotionally exhausting. I guess I'll eat ice cream and sulk."
"You could eat caviar and celebrate."
Mac frowned at Parker. "Celebrate what? The idiocy that is relationships?"
"No, the triumph of Vows signing a contract for the Seaman wedding. We got the job."
"Yay. No, sorry, give me just a minute to change gears." She scrubbed her hands over her face, tried to shove down the sick anger and find the triumph. "We actually got it?"
"We got it, and we've got Cristal and beluga to prove it. We've been waiting for you so we could pop this cork."
"What a strange day." Mac pressed her fingers to her eyes. "What a hell of a strange day. And you know what? This is a really good way to end it. Open that big boy, Parker."
"Once it pops, this is officially a no-sulking zone."
"Already done." She pushed to her feet. "I feel a happy dance coming on. Pop it!"
At the celebrational sound Mac let out a cheer.
"To us." Parker lifted her glass. "Best friends ever, and damn smart women."
They clinked, they drank. And Mac thought she could get through anything, anything that came, as long as she had them.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
BOB STARED AT CARTER ACROSS THE TABLE IN COFFEE Talk, his eyes glazed, his jaw slack. "Holy shit."
"She didn't answer the phone. After I finally got Corrine out of the house, I called. Her house-both lines-her cell. She wouldn't answer. I thought about just going over, but if she didn't answer the phone . . . She thought I'd-She shouldn't have thought that, but given the situation at the time, I can't blame her. Not really." He brooded into his green tea. "I need to explain. Obviously I need to explain. But I'm out of my depth here. I don't know where to start."
"You have two women after you. Two. Man, Carter, you're a dog. You're the big dog."
"For God's sake, Bob, you're completely missing the point."
"Not me, pal." The slack jaw had morphed into a grin of pure admiration. "The point is two hot chicks got it for you. Plus, I heard you had a thing going with Parker Brown. A trio of hot."
"I-What? Who . . . No. Where did that come from?"
"You were cozy right here at the Talk the other night. At the Talk, people talk."
"God, when did this turn into a soap opera? We had coffee, and talked about Mackensie. We're friends. Just. Only. Hardly even that really."
"That's good." Bob issued his wise nod. "Because I was going to tell you that, man, you never date girlfriends. It's not only not cool, but it's lethal. They'll rip you up, then go shopping together."
"That's good to know, Bob." Carter watched the sarcasm float harmlessly over Bob's head. "But I'm not dating Parker. And since when can't a man and a woman have coffee-tea-together in a public place without . . . Never mind." As he felt a headache coming on, Carter let it go. "It just doesn't matter."