Because Danny, unlike Ward, was the kind of macho idiot who knew Catie could deal with her own shit. Which made him not an idiot at all, she thought with a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Laveni caught her gaze from across the table, her lush lips—painted a dark berry red today—pursed as she fought a laugh.

Catie realized she’d been busted mooning over Danny. Mooning. Ugh. It had to be the sex hormones. They’d been antagonists too long for them to become friends and lovers now.

Really though? It was the annoying part of her brain that liked to poke at her sensible thoughts. He wasn’t your antagonist when you two and Jake worked together to prank Sailor and Gabe.

That had been back when she’d been sixteen, and she had to admit they’d worked well together. Yes, Jake had groaned at their constant snarking at each other, but—looking back—Catie could see that they’d only snarked because they’d found it funny to come up with ever more creative insults.

She and Danny had the same odd sense of humor.

What a strange thing to be hit by in the middle of a crowded Chinese restaurant with her sulking baby of an ex next to her and Danny deep in conversation with a smiling Veni. Ward had never once been the recipient of that huge, eye-crinkling smile. Neither had he ever managed to get Veni to dip her head toward him and share a grinning tidbit in the way of friends who got along.

Danny groaned right then, and a laughing Veni punched him in the upper arm.

Catie felt her own lips curve. Though she knew this was dangerous, she couldn’t help but be happy that her bestie liked him and he liked her bestie. The same went for her other friends. So when no one was ready to call it a night after dinner and Danny seemed amenable, she didn’t argue with the decision to pile into their cars for a quick trip to Tamaki Drive and a walk along the waterfront.

Danny slung his arm around her when they met up after parking their cars. “Yes, I’m deliberately doing this to annoy Ward.”

“Some women would find that insulting,” she said, slipping her own arm around his waist. “Good thing I’m not one of those women.”

“Guess we’re both shit-stirrers.” He grinned.

She grinned back, and they walked on behind the others. Danny reminded her about his upcoming birthday dinner, she teased him by saying she’d gotten him socks, and he laughed, a beautiful man against the night.