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“So I think the whole weekend,” my mother says.
“Sorry?” Fuck, I should have been listening. I just want this to be over with.
“You should come for the whole weekend. You could stay until Christmas.”
“Come where?”
She doesn’t even roll her eyes. Maybe she’s too used to my father ignoring her to even get annoyed anymore. “To our party at Ravensmere on the twenty-third.”
“Christmas is our busiest time. I can’t leave the hotel.”
“Of course you can. It’s less than a couple of hours from here. If there’s a problem you’re only a drive away.” She tries – and fails – to lift a brow. “I’m serious, Theo. I want you there. I’m tired of explaining why you’re always so busy.” She takes a deep breath. “And I know Mike and Barbara would like to see you.”
Guilt pulls at me. Barbara and Mike are the housekeeper and grounds man at my parents’ estate. I’ve known them since I was a child. They’re like grandparents to me, and I know I should see them more.
“I’ll see what I can do,” I say, because it’s easier than saying no right now.
My mother looks at me through narrowed eyes. And then she nods, like she knows she’s got me. “Thank you,” she says. “Now tell me about you. What have you been up to? Since you’ve been avoiding all my calls.”
7
GEORGIA
I close the door to the hotel room behind me, and lean against it, my cheeks almost aching from smiling too much.
I’ve only been here a couple of days, and I know it’s way too soon to be feeling like this, but god, it feels so good to be attracted to somebody again. I was scared that Patrick had ruined me for life.
If I had more time I’d call Jennifer and scream at her about this. But I only have five minutes so I run around like a banshee, taking off my damp clothes, putting on a pair of relaxed pants, and a cashmere sweater, then I tie my hair up into a messy knot because rain and thick hair aren’t friends.
I’m trying to tidy up the room when there’s a knock on the door. I practically run to it, pulling it open with what I hope looks like a cool, relaxed manner, though the speed of it probably gives my eagerness away.
“You walked too fast…” I trail off as I see the concierge standing there. “Oh, sorry, I thought you were somebody else.”
“No need to apologize,” he tells me. “I have a note for you.” He holds out an envelope. Two in one day. I’m starting to think I’ve stepped back in time fifty years. Is this how people used to communicate before texts?
“Thank you.”
“It’s a pleasure.” He disappears as quickly as he arrived. I pull open the envelope and skim the words. His script is elegant but completely to the point.
Georgia.
Please accept my apologies. Something came up. Let’s try again another time.
Theo
Disappointment washes over me as I slide the paper back into the envelope. This wasn’t how I hoped tonight would end. We were having a good time.
Oh God, I hope he wasn’t caught by management trying to come up here. My stomach tightens, adding guilt into the mixture. If he ends up getting fired because I invited him up here I’ll feel terrible.
Sliding my feet into a pair of sneakers, I grab my room card and walk out of the bedroom, planning to head down to the lobby so I can figure out what’s going on. If I’m lucky, he’s been grabbed to play the piano and I can listen.
If I’m unlucky. Well, I guess I’ve got some explaining to do.
When I step out of the elevator into the lobby there’s no sound of piano music. I look around, wondering what to do next. The door to the bar is open, laughter spilling out, grabbing my attention.
And that’s when I see him, sitting at a table, a half-smile playing at his lips.
I start to walk toward him then stop dead in my tracks. Because he’s not alone.
