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Chapter 2
Molly
It was my last night in New York. I spent the last two days trying to forget about the events at Bar Max. Thankfully, Jordan hadn’t contacted me since my mystery man rescued me from God only knows what.
My mystery man. I couldn’t stop thinking about him or what might have happened had he not intervened. New York has a nasty reputation of people turning the other way when confronted with violence.
Fortunately for me, everyone in the city didn’t live by that code. But that didn’t stop me from trying to determine why my rescuer walked away without ensuring I was okay. I attempted to put it behind me and focus on the here and now.
Tonight was the annual Juilliard School Alumni Benefit Gala. Julia and I had lived together while attending, and after graduation, we made this event an annual tradition. Julia continued living in the city while I moved back home to Stone Creek. It felt like Julia was ahead of me in the career dream department since she was teaching music to high school students in the city, at least. I, on the other hand, worked at the local music store and played piano every other weekend at The Lux in downtown Stone Creek. At thirty-two, my chances were dwindling with each year that passed.
I sighed as my eyes closed, and I put those thoughts on hold for tonight. I would focus on enjoying my time in the city with my friend instead of my worries.
As I stood in front of the full-length mirror, I assessed my appearance. Julia and I went shopping and splurged on our evening attire. Julia’s dress was decked out in sapphire sequins, but I opted for a more timeless gown. It took me three hours to get my hair and makeup just right, and when I stepped into the midnight black A-line gown, I felt like a fairy princess. The dress had a plunging neckline that elongated the lines of my neck and off-the-shoulder straps that accentuated my delicate arms. The fabric hugged my curves, clinging to my hips and defining my waist as it puddled onto the floor. The split up the left leg stopped mid-thigh, leaving little to the imagination.
I closed my eyes and let my thoughts wander for the first time in a long time. Thoughts of an uncomplicated life where Michael had grown up to realize his dreams of becoming a doctor. Would the memories always hurt this much? After all these years, it still hurt that I survived when my brother didn’t. You hear about survivor’s guilt, and sometimes it seems far-fetched when, in reality, I could tell you firsthand that it was a powerful force to reckon with. After a few quiet moments of reflection, I opened my eyes, and a gentle tear escaped down my cheek. Wiping it away, I smiled and made my way down the hallway.
The ride from Julia’s apartment to the event center wasn’t long enough to calm my mind. When I stepped out of the limo into the night air, I took a cleansing breath to calm my nerves. I couldn’t explain why I felt anxious about the evening, but spending the next few hours surrounded by Manhattan’s high society turned my stomach. I wasn’t a snob hater but preferred a less dramatic social event to the one tonight.
After we were relieved of our coats, we entered the palatial ballroom. My mouth dropped when I took in the sight. Massive columns were strategically placed throughout the space. Round tables held enormous vases of white roses intermingled with delicate greenery and fairy lights. Crystal chandeliers hung throughout the ballroom, and waiters fluttered around the space, offering champagne flutes to the guests. I could hear the subtle tones of a piano in the distance. This felt surreal.
After accepting a glass of bubbly from the ever-present waitstaff, we made our way to a table close to the back of the room. It held a place for six, and as I found my name, I also recognized another name from my time spent in school.
Knight King was a former Juilliard classmate and my boss at Cooper’s Music City back home. He wasn’t coming to the event tonight because of a prior commitment. Julia’s date for the night, Weston, was meeting us here. I wasn’t sure who the other tablemates would be.
“Are you sure you’re okay with me ditching you later?” Julia genuinely looked remorseful, but her eyes pleaded with me to give her grace.
“Of course, I’ll just grab a Lyft back to the hotel. Enjoy yourself.” I managed a smile. Even though I didn’t want to be on my own, I wouldn’t disappoint my best friend, who hadn’t seen her boyfriend in two months.
When Weston made it to our table, he whisked Julia away to the dance floor, leaving me looking into my empty glass, suddenly aware of how alone I was. The other guests from our table had not arrived yet, so I busied myself by scrolling through my social media, trying not to look like a total loser because my plus one was a grade-A asshole.
After a couple of songs, Julia and Weston made it back to the table. Julia held two champagne flutes and plunked one down in front of me.
“So Molly, how’s it going? Julia tells me you’re playing regularly at some hotel in Stone Creek.” Weston was definitely a keeper. His ice-blue eyes and dark blonde hair made him look like a California surfer instead of a Manhattan investment banker. I was happy for Julia. She deserved the happily ever after that Weston could give her.
“Yeah, the Lux Hotel. The manager, Ben, heard me play at the annual festival six months ago and offered me a gig playing twice a month in the lounge. I really like it. It’s not Carnegie Hall, but it satisfies a need, and I think the guests enjoy it, too.”
“Hey.” Julia cut in. “Today’s Molly’s birthday. It’s also her last night before she leaves the Big Apple to return to humble Stone Creek, South Carolina.”
My eyes widened at Julia’s announcement. I continued my glare a beat longer than I had intended. Birthdays were inevitable, but I stopped observing them twenty years ago when my world shattered. Instead of celebrating another year on this earth, a year my brother would never have, I usually hung out with my friends, Lucy and Tess, and got drunk. They knew why I didn’t commemorate that day, and they never judged me but always indulged me with alcohol until I passed out and another day dawned. It was the same every year.
Except for this year, I wasn’t home and didn’t have Lucy or Tess to hold my hair as I vomited my guts out and then gently helped me to bed. No, I was hundreds of miles from home with my best friend, who meant well but didn’t get it. Julia’s idea of coping with a bad situation was always to party louder and prouder than whatever problem she faced. Well, I wouldn’t party, but I would still fulfill the getting drunk part. I only allowed myself to lose control one day a year. Although I still drank the other three hundred sixty-four days, March twenty-third would always be that one day.
Before Weston could reply to Julia’s declaration, I cleared my throat. “I need the ladies’ room.”
“Sure, we’ll be right here.” I’m sure by the pointed look I gave her, she knew she had overstepped. Even knowing my reasons for boycotting my birthday, Julia still held onto hope that one day, I would rediscover the joy and happiness I lost long ago.
When I stood to leave the table, I stumbled a bit. Shit, maybe I had more alcohol than I thought, or maybe it was the five-inch heels I let Julia talk me into buying. I mean, they did shout fuck me, although I wasn’t looking for that tonight. While it might be fun to just let go and let someone carry me outside myself, I learned a long time ago that sex wouldn’t fix what was broken in me. After washing my hands and splashing cool water on my face, I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
You can do this, Molly. You’re not twelve anymore. Life goes on whether you like it or not. You can’t stay stuck in this loop forever. It isn’t healthy. I shook my head and made my way out the door.
Before I reached the table, a smooth voice spoke behind me. “Well, hello there. Would you like to dance?” I turned and was met with emerald eyes and a chiseled jaw. His hair was pulled into a man bun, which I normally didn’t find appealing, but this man was gorgeous and definitely pulled it off nicely. He must have been at least six-four because my frame only came to his chest at best, even in my ridiculous heels. I blinked up at him and nodded as I swayed on my feet. He took my hand and led us onto the dance floor just as the music switched to a slower beat.
“I’m Donovan.” His voice was like velvet as he spoke, but something niggled at me, and a chill ran down my spine.
After a few beats, I realized I hadn’t told him my name. Should I give my real name or not? Before I could consider it further, my voice betrayed me. “I’m Molly.” There. I said it.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Molly.” His voice took on a calculated tone, like he was measuring each word, and when his eyes met mine, I swear something dark passed over them.
