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“I thought I recognized you,” Charlie replies. “You had that big, fancy wedding this summer, didn’t you?”
“Yep.”
“My little sister loves your magazine.”
I smile. “Really?”
“Uh-huh. Last time I went home, my bed was covered with oldHauteissues.”
“Seriously?”
“I swear.”
“Wow. That’s flattering.”
Charlie slides a glass with a pink tinge in front of me. “Sort of a Shirley Temple, but I added a few special ingredients. No alcohol.”
“Thank you.” I take a sip. It tastes like ginger, grapefruit, and rosemary. “It’s really good.”
“Good.”
I keep chatting with Charlie. Occasionally someone comes up for a refill, and he has to work. I often end up in conversation with whoever it is, hearing over and over again about what a fantastic job Crew is doing and how they’re so excited for the future.
By the time Crew himself appears, I’m on my third mocktail, chasing ice around in circles with a straw as Charlie makes someone a gin and tonic.
“Hey.” He stops beside me, close enough I can feel the heat radiating from his body.
“Hey.” Ice clinks against my glass as I keep chasing it round and round. Hannah’s annoying lilt bounces around my head.
I don’t want him. Ihavehim.
Crew looks me over. I know, because I can feel each spot his gaze grazes. “Are you drunk?”
I laugh. “Nope.” I pop the P for emphasis. “I wish.”
His brow furrows as he tries to decode my words. “Are you ready to go?”
“Are you?”
“I wouldn’t be asking if I weren’t.”
I snort. “Right. We only do what you want. Since I’m justCrew Kensington’s wife. Nothing more. Nothing meaningful.”
Hurt, then anger flash across his face. “I thought we were past this shit.”
“Yeah, me too. Then I spent all night getting treated like aprop, while you were nowhere to be found.”
Charlie finishes making the drink. Now he’s pretending like he can’t hear our conversation, although I’m sure every word is audible.
“You knew what tonight was,” Crew replies. “What this world is like.”
“I want us to be different.”
“Wearedifferent.”
“It doesn’t feel like it right now.” I drain the rest of my drink and wave goodbye to Charlie. “Thanks for keeping me company.”
He smiles and nods. I stuff a couple of hundreds into his tip jar.
