The blissful rush of true happiness with a man? With Carter?
I can’t help but frown as my gaze moves to the last of tonight’s group. Elenor, Simone, and Alexandria are refilling their glasses while Elsbeth regales them about her latest vacation. Youth and the eternally youthful. While Elsbeth’s work is understated—a small trimming of her nose and chin—there is no denying she’s had work done, the lack of facial movement the most obvious sign.
Is it my looks that attract Carter?
My money?
Colin coveted both once he discovered who I was. I frown at the thought. Why didn’t I realize that before now?
Shaking myself free of that depressing revelation, I let my gaze wander the room once more.
It’s an eclectic group and even with the occasional animosity, catty snipping, and new attendees, we’ve been gathering for dinner the first Thursday of every month for years.
Women have come and gone, and yet, in all the years I’ve been part of this group, none of the varying personalities have managed to ruin any meal I can recall. And I’ve been coming since I turned eighteen and Mother dragged me along.
Of course all the women, other than Margaret, Elenor, and Nadia, are different now. Mother has long since given the dinners away due to the lack of attention from her favorite life observers—the paparazzi.
Standing by the wall of windows overlooking the harbor, my back to the magnificent view, my mind a whirl of thought, I barely take in Alexandria as she walks over and begins talking. If someone asks me what she’s saying I would be hard pressed to tell them. My mind keeps wandering to the man hidden away on the other side of my apartment.
“Olivia,” Alexandria snaps.
Heads turn in our direction and I smile to show there is nothing wrong. “What?”
“You haven’t heard a word I’ve said.”
“Oh, Alexandria.” I place a hand on my friend’s arm. “I’m sorry. The lead up to Christmas has been so busy, I find my mind wandering a lot. Please, go on.”
“I was telling you that Julian’s new wife is pregnant again.”
“Already? Isn’t the first only a few months old?”
“Four.Fourmonths. Then again, dogs in heat usually can’t keep their tails down.” Alexandria smiles but it looks more like aa grimace before taking a sip of her wine. She only has thinly veiled hatred for the woman who caused her and Julian to divorce. “I hope she has huge stretch marks and saggy breasts.”
“All normal things after pregnancy,” I murmur with what feels like a sharp stab of envy.
Alexandria shrugs. “Well, of course. But I want Julian to suffer some horrible reminder too. Shame pregnancy doesn't make a man's penis shrivel—not that he can afford to lose anything.”
“You know it’s not healthy for you to keep dwelling on that asshole.”
“I’m not.” Alexandria frowns. “Well, I wasn’t until I heard they got married before the ink was dry on the divorce and now she’s pregnant again.”
Alexandria sighs and I decide enough is enough. Time for an intervention. “First thing tomorrow morning I’m setting up an account at Exclusively Yours and you’re getting back up on that dating horse.”
She gapes at me. “No.”
“Yes.”
“Olivia—” Any argument she’s going to make is interrupted.
“Olivia?” Elsbeth calls from over near the foyer. “Where is your wedding portrait?”
I freeze. I didn’t think anyone would notice the missing picture. It’s not like our dinners are here that often. Once a year isn’t enough for Elsbeth to have memorized my decor, is it? “Ah…”
“It’s always right here.” She points to the newly bare wall. “Are you having it reframed?”
“Um, no. I, um…” God, what should I say?
Of its own accord, my gaze darts to the hallway Carter disappeared down not thirty minutes ago. He asked me to be crazy with him and I can’t deny I want to.
