Erin hugged her when they stopped at the mailbox. “Listen here, of course you’re nervous. You’re taking all these new steps in your life. You can do this. This is life and you’re meant to live it. You’re starting over. I know, Elise, I know what that’s like. I came back to Seattle and I was a mess. Empty. Brody and Adrian stuck by me when I was a zombie.”

Elise knew it had to have been hard. It turned her cold just thinking about not having Rennie, imagining the hell of watching a child die.

“I admire you so much for who you are. You have two wonderful men who love you so much. It’s so clear to anyone who looks at you that you’re so strong.”

“I made it through and you can too. Scratch that, you are making it through. Just let it happen. You’re fine. You look gorgeous and effortless as usual. Everyone likes you, including and most especially Brody. He’s a genuine person, a man who cares about the people in his life. You’re in his life. We all know you two are together, no matter what you two call it. Of course this is a date. I think you and I need a girls-only evening. When your parents go back to get their stuff next week, let’s get together, okay? I’ll come over, we can make dinner and hang out. Maybe paint some nails and do hair with Rennie and then you and I can talk. I’ll tell you my story, you tell me yours. Deal?”

Could she? What would that be like? For so long she didn’t have close friends because of Ken. She was embarrassed by him, by what her life had turned into, so she just did her thing, and those friendships with the other dancers in the company only went so deep. The allure of having a friend she could share it all with was a heady thing. She already had such intimacy with Brody, but even at that, she hadn’t told him everything. She hadn’t wanted him to be disgusted with her or her past.

“That sounds so good. Thanks, you know? For being . . .” Elise swallowed hard.

“Your friend. And you’re mine.”

“Are you hogging Elise, Erin?” Brody called out from his front porch. “Should I be worried?”

Erin laughed and kissed Elise’s cheek. “She’s pretty hot, but she seems to like you better.”

“If you both change your minds, can we watch?” Ben asked, coming out on the porch to join Brody.

“Ew. That’s my sister, dude.” Brody wrinkled his nose at Ben, who laughed.

“Well, then don’t look. She’s not my sister.”

“Don’t make me hurt you,” Brody said, whacking Ben’s arm.

“Pervs, the whole lot of them.” Erin grinned, looking over her shoulder at the men on the porch before turning back to Elise. “You okay now?” Erin asked quietly.

“Yeah. Thanks for the pep talk, Coach.”

“Let’s roll, ladies. We’ve got a table, a few pitchers and some wings waiting for us.” Ben took one of Erin’s hands, Todd the other.

Brody let them go ahead, strolling slowly up to Elise until he reached her, pulling her in for a kiss. “Hey you. You look pretty.”

“Thank you. Rennie reminded me that you like my hair down.”

He laughed, putting an arm around her shoulders before they began to walk the several blocks toward the tavern. It was one of the big draws of this neighborhood that everything was within walking distance. The air was chilly, but they were all bundled up, and Brody knew that having grown up in Albany, Elise knew how to deal with the cold.

“Excited for the showcase?”

She looked up and smiled. “I am. I think they’re ready. It’s pretty much out of my hands at this point. They’re in charge of themselves. Hopefully they’ll do well. If not, I’ll have to deal with highstrung dancers and their parents come morning.”

Her mother had invited him to the after party she and Paul had planned, and he’d accepted. He liked being included in that part of her world. Wanted to be there for her big night as well. It was a surprise party, but he’d nearly mentioned it twice, so he reminded himself to shut up.

The tavern wasn’t fancy. At first glance one might even call it a dive. But it was a family-owned place, the food was great and the beer was cheap. The pool tables were kept in excellent condition, and all was right with the world when he walked in and saw their group already assembled and ready to go.

And it wasn’t like he was going to complain each time Elise blew the chalk from the cue or when she bent to take a shot. True to her word earlier that year, she was an excellent pool player, cleaning the floor with Ben, Adrian and Arvin.

“How hot is that?” Todd murmured as they watched Erin, Maggie and Elise play against Adrian.

“Yeah. I can’t complain. That’s a whole lot of very pretty, very capable woman there.” Arvin grabbed a wing as he settled in at the table.

They watched as Elise won again and it was Brody’s turn to play.

Elise’s skin broke out in gooseflesh every time he walked behind her, taking care to get extra close. He brushed against her, bringing the line of his c**k against her ass or thigh each time he moved around the table.

“If you think you can distract me with sex, you’re totally right,” she murmured as he leaned in beside her to take his shot. And missed.

She grinned and he gave her a hard kiss. “You did that on purpose.”

“Totally. But I wasn’t lying.”

He laughed and she let Todd win because she wanted to sit down, drink a beer and eat some wings.

Brody’s body next to hers in the booth was warm and reassuring, even as he set off hormonal earthquakes within her every time he touched her.