“Oh my God! Look at you.” Sadie engulfed Renee in a hug that went on an extra beat. It felt wonderful. “That dress is stunning.”

“You look pretty amazing yourself. Hello, Ethan!”

Ethan kissed her cheek. “Hi there. Hey, Myles.”

Sadie wore a coral eyelet dress that set off her dark hair. And while Ethan’s khaki suit expertly complemented Sadie’s ensemble, the couple seemed a little sad, a little tired.

“Have you two seen Bree?” she asked them. “She had to work late, but she should be here by now.”

“I feel like I saw her earlier.” Ethan craned his neck.

“But you know who we did just bump into? Dr. Hanlon.” Sadie gave an innocent, wide-eyed shrug. “Oh, there he is right over there, near the bar.”

Renee blushed furiously as her eyes moved toward the center of the room where Dan was handing Essie Park a pink cocktail. Essie wore a striking white dress that looked unnervingly similar to a bridal gown. It was strapless and clung in all the right places. Dan looked dapper in his navy suit, his salt-and-pepper hair close cropped and his face freshly shaven.

“I need my smelling salts. Take me over!” Myles practically purred, and Renee regretted not filling him in on the situation. If he knew what had happened between them, there was no way he’d drag her into such agony. Myles may be a flirt, but he was a fiercely loyal friend. “No offense, Ethan. I’m just more of a Tony Stark than a Captain America sort of guy.”

“None taken,” Ethan laughed.

“What would Nathan say?” Renee elbowed him, trying to save herself from this impending doom.

“That there’s nothing wrong with window-shopping.” Myles was already walking toward Dan and Essie. “It’s not as though I’m going to try anything on!”

Rolling her eyes, she helplessly trailed behind him.

Dan’s eyes widened when he first saw them, and Renee immediately gazed down at her dress, regretting the plunging neckline. Why hadn’t she worn that yellow swing dress with the scoop neck? Or the darling vintage number with the polka dots? She looked ridiculous with all this cleavage, like a try hard cougar.

“Renee, Myles,” Dan said, nodding toward them. He shook Myles’s hand and gave Renee a chaste kiss on the cheek. “Great to see you two. Renee, you look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” She plastered a smile across her face, even as her skin burned where his lips had grazed. “You both look super.”

Super? She did a mental face-palm.

“Essie Park, you’re slaying it! White—how virginal!” Myles dramatically fanned his face. “About to be touched for the very first time.”

“Oh, stop it, Myles Morrison.” Essie swatted at him. “But if you must know, I had a business meeting in the city a few weeks ago, and I made a trip to Bloomingdale’s while I was there.”