He lined up a dozen servers like it was a stage and walked them through a script. He told them idiotic phrases like ‘smile with your whole face’ and ‘anticipate what they want’. A few of them nodded like this was obvious while others were entirely bored with the process. He showed them how to stack glasses and where to stand while waiting for directions. Gavin kept saying the word brand until it stopped meaning anything.
It was ridiculous.
Lydia drifted from station to station with her phone, catching angles and asking for retakes when Gavin said something quotable. He obliged most willingly. Gavin knew how to play to acamera. When it came time to hand out schedules, he handed them to Lydia first, kissed her on the temple, and said she was a natural. She glowed at the compliment.
“You can stop scowling,” Lucy dryly drawled from beside my elbow and I was startled by her presence. I had been far too engrossed in watching the proceedings.
“Was I scowling?” I asked, more to gather my thoughts and compose myself at her sudden presence. Maybe now would be a good time to show her the library, to try my best to win her back. I knew that she would like it. Lucy would understand the time and effort put into the endeavor and hopefully it would soften her feelings towards me a little. Perhaps we could start over and I wouldn’t make such a large blunder again.
“You were,” she stated with amusement. Her smile slipped and a frown marred her brows. “You don’t like him.”
“I don’t know what my liking him or not has to do with anything,” I murmured, my eyes drawn back to Gavin as he
“He’s Lydia’s boyfriend. He seems nice enough,” Lucy mentioned.
He was charming and handsome. He turned all the ladies' heads with compliments as he instructed the servers, giving them their schedules. Gavin even winked at one or two of them.
“You’re going to get permanent frown lines,” Lucy remarked.
I glanced at her. She hadn’t been paying attention to Gavin and had missed the winks. The only good thing was that she had been looking at me instead. Perhaps she was immune to him? I felt some of the tightness in my chest ease. “I suppose I am not as joyful as some people.”
“Why is that?” Lucy asked. “You have a good life. You have a career, wealth, and a good friend in Braxton. Why don’t you smile more often?”
“Braxton adopted me. I couldn’t shake him off in school,” I dryly commented. The truth was Braxton had been badly bullied. I stepped in once, and he had declared himself my best friend. In retrospect, I probably had needed him more than he needed me.
Lucy laughed. “You shouldn’t make light of such a good friendship. He is like a brother to you.”
“He is,” I reflected with a small smile before sobering. “I suppose I am a very dull person.”
“No. Just somber unless you are in a snowball fight. Then you can smile, laugh, and aim like an olympian,” Lucy cheekily replied.
“I had a good teacher in Braxton,” I told her.
“Didn’t you say he was a three time champion?” she recalled.
“Yes,” I agreed.
“You also said your parents have passed. That must have been very difficult,” Lucy gently pressed.
I watched Gavin schmooze Lydia, taking her for a dance around the room as she laughed gaily. “I was in college. My sister was in high school. I became responsible for her overnight.”
For once Lucy seemed without words.
I had a small smile at that. “Georgianna is a better sister than I am brother. I think she would like your family as long as she didn't become overwhelmed.”
“We can be overwhelming,” Lucy admitted.
“It’s a good kindof overwhelming when one gets used to it,” I remarked. I turned to face Lucy. “I’m not very good with people. I’m sure you noticed that, working for me. I tend to say the wrong thing, or am too quiet. My parents were very strict and preferred their friends to their children. I’m not particularly social and people find me difficult or think I’m a complete snob.”
“That’s not true,” she weakly protested, a guilty look on her face. I knew she had thought the same of me and I really didn’t blame her.
“It’s entirely true. I’m just not sure how to change. It’s part of why Braxton and I make a good team. People like Braxton. He’s kind and easy to get along with. Sometimes I envy him a little,” I admitted.
“You shouldn’t. You’re just fine the way you are,” Lucy told me. Her cheeks stained pink and she looked away. Her head tilted to the side and her lips firmed as she spotted Kitty and Meri down the hall. “Not there! We can’t have people dipping into the hall to kiss under the mistletoe and get in the way of the serving staff.”
I watched Lucy go to talk with her sisters and felt there might be some hope for me afterall.
Chapter Twenty-One: A Night to Remember
