I opened the door and his face changed the instant he saw me. “Sorry. I didn’t realize it was you.”
Logan had looked grave but composed in the conference room. Now, in private, it was like he’d taken off a mask. He sat behind a desk piled with stacks of paper and sticky notes, anxiety radiating from him, etching exhausted lines into his handsome face. He scrubbed his hands through his hair. “If you want to talk about leaking the deal Sonny and Kai made, trust me, I wish we could, but I just don’t have time to work out a strategy.”
“That’s not why I’m here.” My God, my heart was pounding so fast you’d think I was lining up in front of a firing squad.You’re worth it, I reminded myself, and planted myself directly in front of his desk. “I wanted to talk about yesterday. In the library.”
He swallowed. “Lex, I’m sorry, but Ireallydon’t have time right now.”
I tried not to flinch. “I know you’re busy, but it’s important we talk about what happened. Sooner, rather than later.”
The phone on his desk started ringing and he glanced at it, then back at me. “Can we just wait until this dies down? Every minute I’m not on the phone with someone is a minute closer this campaign comes to crashing and burning.”
I could feel disappointment crashing against the gates of my heart. “Just five minutes,” I whispered, nearly wincing at how pathetic it sounded. But part of me refused to believe this moment was unfolding this way.
The phone rang one last time and Logan lunged for it. He pressed a hand to the receiver. “I’m sorry, Lex, I have to take this.” Then his voice brightened. “Senator Wortham, thanks for getting back to me on such short notice.”
I stood there blinking at him. Logan wasn’t even looking at me anymore. He was nodding and trying to reach a stack of papers at the farthest edge of his desk, like I didn’t exist.
I knew this feeling. I was twelve years old and small again. A second-tier priority. You would’ve thought I’d be used to it by now, but the riot of feelings in my chest was as fierce and fresh as the first time. Zoey’s voice floated back:If he brushes you off, you have your answer. Message received, Logan Arthur.
I pushed the papers closer so he could reach them, then fled as fast as I could.
34
Three’s a Crowd
“Wow, what a...healthy amount of champagne.” Will’s eyes widened as I snagged not one but two flutes off the server’s tray. “You really love weddings, huh?”
I felt my cheeks heat under the extra layers of blush I’d swiped on to be as glamorous as possible for Will. Tonight was his boss’s wedding, and we were at the Four Seasons Hotel downtown, a dark wood-paneled, marble-floored venue right on Lady Bird Lake that was a little too rich for my blood, though Will and his fellow doctor colleagues seemed at home. From the moment I’d arrived, I’d heard Logan’s voice in my ear, whispering about the peacock parade, and I’d been trying to drown him out all night with champagne and cake and dancing. But it was a wedding, which meant love was on display everywhere I turned, and though Will was right that Ididnormally love them, on the heels of Logan’s more-or-less rejection, attending this wedding felt like death by a thousand paper cuts. I’d cried during the vows, which was typical of me—I just hadn’t corrected Will when he’d handed me his pocket square and whispered, “I love how happy you are for them.” Thatshouldhave been the reason I’d teared up.
I looked at Will, good-natured teasing shining in his eyes, and resolved to put Logan out of my mind once and for all. “Actually,” I said, holding up one of my flutes, “I’m celebrating. Here’s to picking yourself up after a fall. To having good instincts about danger and learning to listen to them. And to getting closure.”
“Cheers,” Will said, and clinked my glass. I took a long, fortifying sip of champagne, letting the bubbles tickle my throat. It had been a little more than twenty-four hours since Logan had dismissed me in his office. And though my instincts begged me to stay home and wallow, there was no way I’d miss Will’s big event. So through sheer will, I put on the mantle of new Alexis, who did not crumple after rejection, but instead had a steel spine and a sense of purpose and, most importantly, a fancy yellow dress from Rent the Runway that demanded to be worn.
“About your toast,” Will said. “I’m really sorry about the teachers union switching to endorse Mane. I heard it on NPR this morning. Sounds like the betrayal’s hitting you hard.”
“Let’s not talk about the campaign.” I downed the rest of the first glass and suppressed the urge to hiccup at the bubbles. “How’s the hospital lately?” This was Will’s night, after all. I gestured with my empty flute at the sharply dressed people in the ballroom around us. “They seem like a pretty fun crew to work with.” Will’s colleagues had been kind to me all night, even if Will didn’t seem particularly close to anyone, lending evidence to Lee’s claim that he hadn’t found his people yet. No wonder he’d really wanted a date.
“It’s actually been hard lately.” Will’s face softened. “One of my favorite patients isn’t doing so well. Her surgery didn’t have the impact we’d hoped.”
The worry in his voice was sobering. Here Will was dealing with a real problem, one that put my small troubles into perspective. I took his hand and squeezed it. “I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope she improves.”
He squeezed back. “Thanks.” Then he shook his head and smiled. “Enough of that. Sorry. We’re here to have fun.”
“Dr. Laderman!” called a crisp voice, one I recognized from the ceremony.
Will and I turned to find the two grooms striding toward us. Dr. Samuel Kelis, chair of the cardiology department and Will’s boss, was a tall, distinguished Black man with graying temples. His new husband, Morgan, was only a little taller than me, with bright red hair and freckles, and from what I’d gathered was an independent filmmaker in Austin’s burgeoning film scene. They walked up to us with their fingers laced together, beaming.
“Having fun, Will?” Dr. Kelis held himself rather formally, each word spoken with sharp elocution.
“Yes, sir,” Will answered. “A great time.”
“Congratulations,” I gushed, unable to help myself. “Your wedding was gorgeous and you make a beautiful pair.”
“Dr. Kelis, Morgan, this is Alexis Stone.” Will beamed at me as I dropped my empty champagne glass on a nearby table and shook the two men’s hands.
“Double-fisting.” Morgan’s eyes gleamed. “I like the way your protégé’s date rolls.”
Even though Will’s whole face brightened at the wordprotégé, I flushed and thrust the second glass of champagne at Morgan. “No, this one’s for you.” God forbid Will’s boss think he was dating a lush.
