Hashtag WendyDick
Wefoundournameson the seating chart at the entrance of the grand ballroom and weaved through the maze of tables to find our seat tags. The room was stunning. The ceiling had large pieces of pink and white fabric drooped between golden rods nestled in between enormous chandeliers. The tables were large round circles which sat ten people, covered in white tablecloths with a pink or red accent stripes down the middle. In the center were large glass cylinders filled with white, red, and pink pebbled hearts coupled with golden arrows sticking up the middle. And the place settings were brushed gold chargers underneath white porcelain plates with a golden rim. They had really done up the valentine’s theme, but it was elegant, not gaudy.
We found our seats and sat there quietly, watching people file in. Something was weighing on Callum, but I didn’t know what. Nothing had really changed much since we arrived, so I couldn’t figure out what it was.
“You know.” I started, then stopped, grabbing his attention. “That was really nice what you did earlier. The donation. It’s not why I invited you.”
He smiled. “I know why you invited me.”
“Because I seem to have a problem attracting decent men that want to stick around?” His head tilted to the side disapprovingly. I was trying to make a self-deprecating joke, but I could see how it could have been perceived as a jab at him, so I added. “And your cock, of course.”
“With a filthy mouth like yours,” his thumb padded over my chin, “I don’t see how you don’t have guys lining up.”
“Callum?” a woman’s voice with a soft accent chimed behind us.
Callum’s eyes fixed on mine knowingly, and it took him a second to turn around.
“Callum. It is you.” Her gaze quickly flitted to me, then back to him.
“Sophie.” He said, standing up and moving to give her a hug. “Everlee mentioned a highly sought after French chef was being brought in and I wondered if it is you.”
She held her hands to the side, smiling. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you’d be at an event supporting children. I know how much these organizations mean to you.”
They did? I felt… jealous. Why didn’t he tell me how much the charity meant to him? I guess I should have known since he just gave them ten grand, but still…
He smiled, “Yes they do.” He turned to look at me. “Sophie, this is Everlee.”
“Your date, I presume?”
The way she said date didn’t sit right with me. It felt like there was a hint of distaste in the word, or maybe that was me reading into it because I had a feeling she was one of his past women.
“You look stunning.” She offered, grabbing my hands and pulling me in to give me a kiss on each side of my cheek. She studied me for a second, then turned back to Callum. “How’s Emmett? I miss him. All of you, really.” Even though she wasn’t directly looking at me, I could tell she was watching my reaction out of her peripheral.
“Emmett’s doing good. He recently just opened up his own restaurant here in town. Bo La Vie.”
She chuckled, clasping her hands together. “Good life. Yes. I suppose you all live the good life, don’t you?” Her words wandered off.
“You should come by. The guys would love to see you.”
“I’m only in town for a few days.”
“Perfect! You can come by our club one of those nights.”
“A club with you and the boys?” She smiled. “Could be trouble.”
“So that’s a yes?”
“Oui. Now I have to get backstage and get ready to wow you all with my expert culinary skills. Enjoy your dinner!” She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Ta- Ta. And nice to meet you Everlee!”
Callum watched her walk away, and then slowly turned to me. I was fighting a mixture of emotions right now. Jealousy. Anger. Envy. Sadness. So many things. She was one of their… their women. She was a world renowned chef, and I was just… me.
Callum’s hand drifted to the side of my face. “Everlee.” His words were soft, like he was reading every single emotion that was flitting through my mind.
“She was one of your…”
“Yes. But it was a long time ago. She has since moved on and has a wonderful husband and three beautiful children. We get a Christmas card every year from them.”
“It’s fine.” I said in that typical girl voice that says I’m totally not fine. But I was trying to be. I knew I didn’t have a right to be anything but happy he was here with me. I was going to go to his place tonight to have the best sex of probably everyone in this ballroom and easily the best sex of my life.
