Two hours later, I can barely feel my feet.
As someone who literally stands most of the day, every day, that’s saying something. But women’s shoes are made directly by Satan himself. Granted, I love how powerful and beautiful the Christian Louboutin shoes make me feel. The four inch stiletto suggested I was a force to be reckoned with. Maybe I should have chosen a smaller heel.
I ran into Claire, one of the women in the crazy group chat. She never talked much, and as soon as I met her, I understood why. Claire is quiet and introverted, just like me. She’s an accountant, has a type-A personality with an analytical brain, and I can tell we’ll gel right away. She tells me about a run-in with a man outside the bathrooms who infuriated her.
“He was loud, brash, and completely out of line!” she huffs.
“How so?”
She is simmering with tension and anger. “He suggested we have a quickie in the bathroom. I didn’t even know his name! Drunk I might do that, but sober? No.”
“But you would drunk?” I ask, completely amused at the dichotomy between our conversation and Claire’s very detail-oriented and meticulous personality.
She shrugs. “I have been known to make some rather questionable decisions when drunk. But still! The audacity!”
“What else did he say?” I ask.
“He commented on my dress, and that I was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.” Claire’s ice-blue strapless dress fits her thin body beautifully, an almost perfect match for her eyes.
“Well, you look amazing, so you can’t fault him for that.”
“Audrey!” Chelsea hisses from behind a pillar. Claire says goodbye as I turn to Chelsea. She motions me to approach, then looks around to see if anyone is listening. “Did you mess with the seating chart?”
“No. Why? I finalized it two days ago and sent it to the hotel. Is there an issue?” My mind whirls with possible problems. Did I accidentally put sports rivals at the same table, or a man and his current girlfriend next to his ex wife and her date, who just so happens to be his ex-best friend?
“Dude,” Chelsea says, her eyes wide. “We’ve both been moved.”
“What?” I explode. “That’s preposterous! Who wou —”
“Oh, I think you know exactly who did. And now we’re stuck, because I certainly can’t switch with you. He’s at the head table, and you’re the only one who hasn’t sat down yet.”
I close my eyes, willing the emotion clogging my throat to settle down. “This can’t be happening.”
Her eyes are full of sympathy. “My guess is he planned this, because he knew you would avoid him.”
I laugh bitterly. “Well, he’s right.”
Chelsea sighs. “I figure this can go a few ways. You can sit politely, wait until the auction begins, and then we can go hide again. Or, you could light into him as soon as you sit down, so all of his buddies know what happened.”
“They don’t even know he was hiding me, so I’d look like a psycho,” I tell her. “Any other ideas?”
She gives me a small smile. “You listen to him. Hear what he has to say. Then either forgive him and move on, or forgive him and move toward him.”
I gasp. “Move toward him? I don’t want to get back with him! I deserve a man who wants me beside him, not one who thinks he’s better than me.”
“Like I said, listen to him. He may have a valid reason for what you heard. He’s looking for you. Go,” she says, pointing toward Jamie’s table. She pats me on the shoulder, then walks off toward the furthest back table. The table I was also supposed to sit at. I take a deep, shuddering breath, then walk slowly toward the head table. Jamie immediately stands, smoothing a hand over the front of his gorgeous tuxedo, and I force my eyes to look away.
“Everyone, this is Audrey. She spearheaded this event. Audrey, you remember Jax and his wife, Becca. Then we have …” Jamie says, pointing to all the men sitting around the circular table, “Maddox, who plays football with me, and Troy, my agent. Lastly, Max, who plays baseball for the Rocky Mountain Raptors. And I apologize, I already forgot the names of your dates. I’m awful with names.”
Everyone laughs as Jamie pulls out my chair. I reluctantly sit, as I had intended to come up with some excuse as to why I couldn’t sit for dinner. But I see the relief on Jamie’s face, and I’m reminded that he also struggles in social situations. Regardless of our relationship, I assume he needs all the supporthe can get. Directly to my right, Becca leans in. “Are you okay? I know something happened between you two, but I don’t know what. Jacob sucks at giving details.”
I love how Becca only refers to Jax by his full name of Jacob, but smile sadly as I shake my head. “No, nothing to report. I’m fine. Just tired, and my feet are killing me.”
She lets out a breathy giggle. “Women’s shoes are the worst! But you look absolutely amazing tonight. Jamie hasn’t been able to tear his eyes off of you.”
I stiffen slightly, biting my lip. That was all I wanted. To be the object of a man’s devotion and love. I didn’t expect my partner to shower me with gifts, or love bomb me. I can appreciate the quiet ways love shines through. Like getting my favorite candy, and having the only coffee I’ll drink stocked in his kitchen. I’d rather have that kind of love any day of the week. “I’m not comfortable talking about this right now. I may never be ready.”
Becca nods. “I get it. Do you want to grab coffee this week? Or a quick lunch? Even if we don’t talk about the heathens around this table, I can be a friend.”
