“I’m the lucky one.”
She gives me a watery smile. “I knew you were a good one, Levi.”
For some reason, her words mean a lot. “You too, Andrea.”
She gets up and bends over to kiss me on the cheek, then moves up to McNally, whispering something that looks like it’s laced with venom and then walks away.
I stand up, watching her. McNally straightens his tie, looking almost unfazed. Almost. But then he turns toward me, a monstrous look on his face.
“Levi, what the fuck are you doing?”
I don’t understand why, but I run to catch up with Andrea. She’s nearly at her car, a cameraman following her.
“Turn that off!” I order.
Andrea spins, wiping at her eyes.
“Hey, sorry. I was wondering what happened back there with Steve.”
“I…can’t tell you.”
“Come on,” I urge. “It looked tense.”
“It’s embarrassing.”
“I won’t tell a soul.”
“I only did it for you,” she says, tears streaming down her cheeks.
I blink at her, my heart constricting. “What happened?”
She covers her mouth, her fingers trembling. “H-he told me that if I slept with him, he’d make sure you picked me.”
My mouth drops. “He didn’t.”
She nods. “I did it because I was so sure there was something between us, and now I just feel so stupid.” She pulls in a ragged breath. “Why didn’t you pick me?”
My heart hurts for her. I want to go to McNally and grab him by the balls and twist. Who would do that?
“He never told me to, Andrea. And even if he did, I couldn’t go against my heart like that.”
“I was so sure…”
She dissolves into tears and big hiccups. I put my arms around her. “I’m so sorry you went through that. I’ll be here for you. What he did wasn’t right. Maybe?—.”
“N-no. I did it willingly. I just want to forget the whole thing ever happened.”
“But he coerced you into it.” My hands ball to fists.
“I don’t know,” she says. The tears keep coming. At one point, McNally walks out of the restaurant, and I give him the finger.
“Listen, Andrea, I’m going to check with a few people who will know if there’s anything that can be done, okay? I’ll call you with an update. Now, is there anyone who can come pick you up? Or I’ll order you a rideshare.”
She steps back, wiping at her nose. “No, I’m fine. I just want to forget this ever happened.”
“I’ll call you,” I promise. Regardless of whether I chose her or not, I feel for her. No one should make a girl feel like this. Ever.
She nods.
