Maybe it’ll convince Nancy that I’m lost forever, and she’ll disappear from my life.
Judging by the way she watches the whole exchange from across the room like a jealous cat, Nancy hasn’t figured it out yet. She clings pathetically to her date—some former basketball star who’s all height. New money who hasn’t figured out what to do with it.
I ignore her and turn back to my pitch, vowing we’re on the verge of getting this right the same way I’ve promised a hundred other times.
This might be the first time I’ve believed it, though.
Brian shakes my hand and says he’ll have his people call mine—no empty promise coming from this man.
When we’re done, I get us two glasses of champagne and clink mine against hers.
“Time for a well-deserved break.”
“Oh, thank God. Does that last guy ever blink?” She drops her smile.
“Nah, he sleeps with his eyes open. You’re not a legend without being a little weird,” I say.
She laughs. “My cheeks hurt from smiling. How do you do this for hours at a time?”
“Practice and face massages,” I joke. “The risk of shitty press changes your priorities too.”
“Hmm, I guess. You said we won’t do this much, right? I don’t know if I can keep up.”
“You’re doing amazing. Millstable never bullshits or makes promises he doesn’t mean. I owe you.” When I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her closer so I can kiss her temple, it’s not because I’m playing make-believe for an ever-present audience.
It’s because I’m fucking grateful.
It’s because I truly respect Lena Joly.
It’s because we both know this is getting out of hand.
Too bad I don’t care.
All I know is when she’s by my side, looking like a goddess striking earth, wowing potential partners without really trying, I’m living shock and awe.
“I need to go to the bathroom and touch up my makeup,” she says.
A caveman part of me wants to follow her into some secluded corner, shove her dress up, and fuck her against the wall.
The bathrooms are perfectly nice here, not grimy or run down.
I’ve had sex in worse places.
But as tempting as it is, we’re not here for that, and the wrong people might notice.
“Come back soon,” I say with a fierce parting kiss.
“I will.” She smiles up at me but only for a second.
Her eyes search mine, and I wonder what she’s hoping to find. How much did that phone stunt disappoint her?
The ring on her finger glitters in the light, a secret mockery only I know as she weaves through the crowd.
Every step she makes is so graceful, winding through people like a bird through branches.
I watch her for too long, trying to push down the unsettling feeling that something is off.
If it’s the phone, we’ll talk about it later.
