With the onslaught of messages finally over, or at least slowed, I do my best to match her wit in my response.
Dalton:First off, I really don’t think you could ever be unprofessional. I don’t think you know the meaning of the word. Second, I’ve worked a few of Trenton’s parties and wouldn’t mind working your side of things. Third, you don’t have to apologize to me.
Raleigh:It’s true, a Raleigh Davis apology is rare. I only offer one to people who really deserve it. Take that how you will. Go hang with your puppers. I’ll see you around the office tomorrow.
There’s no real way to respond to that, especially when I know she’s already moved on to something else on her busy schedule, but it feels wrong to leave it hanging.
Dalton:See ya!
See ya? See ya! What a lunatic. “She thinks I’m a lunatic,” I announce to Merle. He can only let his tongue hang out with his mounting breaths; he knows a walk is imminent.
***
I should be focused on the sidewalk in front of me, on the dog that’s zig zagging across the path ahead like a madman, but it’s impossible. My conversation with Raleigh takes up a lot of my mental capacity at the moment. Despite being upset with me, she had trusted me enough to reach out, apologize, and ask a favor. That’s more maturity than I’ve ever experienced from a relationship.
Woah! I pull back on Merle’s leash as a labrador passes by. I take it as a sign to pull back on my thoughts as well. I do my best to build up a retaining wall to tide me over until I can get back to the apartment and either do some work or watch tv, but it’s no use. A vision of Raleigh in costume at the upcoming Halloween party dances across my mind, and I have to physically stop to take a breath.Stop being creepy.
The images give way and the feeling of having her in my passenger seat takes its place. She had been so angry, and yet, an underlying sadness had dominated it all. Thinking back, it’s a melancholy I’ve noticed before. The fiery red hair and theperfectly tailored wardrobe do their best to mask it, but I’m sure there’s something there that she hasn’t let on about. Something I want to know about and have a manly urge to fix. I know she doesn’t need her problems commandeered, but maybe she does need someone to be by her side.
The biggest part of my job is observation, so the fact that she hasn’t opened up to me yet doesn’t scare me in the slightest. I’ll sit back, be patient, and observe. After all, a place of patience is the most comfortable place for me to be.
Chapter 13
Raleigh
I HAVEN’T SEEN DALTON since the day I made a fool of myself. He’s been gracious enough to answer my texts about plans for tonight’s soiree, but in the past few hours, I’ve started to feel guilty. When I asked Dalton to come to the party, it wasn’t out of the need of security. I really wanted him just to keep me company. Selfish then, and certainly unnecessary now.
At the time, I didn't know what kind of situation Mae and I would be in and didn't quite know how I’d fit in tonight. If I were to get into an altercation with Trenton, I know the only person who could defuse it would be Dalton. Thankfully, my worries will more than likely be a nonissue as Mae has since apologized to me and the video shoot crew for the wasted hours on set. Despite calm seas now, I expect a storm to smolder on the horizon as we get deeper into Halloween night. Mae and I haven’t spoken face to face in days, but I pray that streak ends tonight.
The ballroom is decked out in sparkling crystal and shimmering fabrics. Guests have started to arrive, filling the air with the smell of hairspray and crazy perfumes. It’s a polite mix of 1920s glamor and flapper dresses—a real Great Gatsby moment. Leave it to Trenton to throw a ridiculous party at one of the nicest hotels in the state, all with a theme he probably doesn’t even understand. My own dress is a take on the green light in the Gatsby story, a beacon of forgiveness and new beginnings dolled up in satin and taffeta. I highly doubt anyone would get it, but at least I had fun coming up with it.
My gloved hand snakes around the stem of my glass as I observe the growing crowd. Mae stands mingling with a small group of familiar artists, her bandmates mostly. Her arm is woven lovingly around Trenton’s as the two laugh about something said. I suppose this will be my evening, jealously watching on, as Mae has her fun. I wouldn’t even call it jealousy. Annoyance with a tinge of anger is more like it.
Mae’s eyes flick over to me for a moment, and at first, I think she’s surprised to see me. In a second, she’s made her excuse, taking Trenton’s empty glass to be refilled, and makes her way to me. I put on a smile and try not to look as alone as I feel.
I take a sip from my glass as she approaches. “Hey Mae,” I say, leaning in for an awkward hug. She’s wearing her hair in the style of the era, and yet, it looks so incredibly modern on her.
“Raleigh,” she says in acknowledgement. She glances over her shoulder once before steering me toward the bar. Once we’re there, her truth comes out. “I didn’t think you were coming.”
“I was invited,” I respond, crossing my arms. We’ve squabbled before, like sisters, but I can feel a heated argument on the way.
“Trenton’s still mad—”
Crossing my arms, holding my drink out from my body, I cut her off. “Are you? Because I am.”
“I wasn’t really ever mad, it was a silly situation.” She reaches out a hand and rests it on my arm. “It’s all taken care of now anyway.”
I feel my hand tighten around the stem of my glass thinking about how anyone could call how he treated mesilly.I could probably shatter the glass if I tried. “You’re right. It was. He can get over it.” I seethe.
Mae slowly removes her hand, still confused as to why I could possibly still be angry. I know she’s going through things, and Trenton’s probably said things to her that I don’t know about. Thinking of her in his clutches I let the tension go out of my hand and try to push everything into the past. I need to be here, in the present, for her.
Mae wrings her hands in front of her, like there’s still something she wants to say. Reaching forward it’s my turn to comfort her, “Something else on your mind?”
“I’m just–” She pauses. “I’m just really sorry for what Trenton said to you. It was so uncalled for. He’s just been under so much stress-”
“Stop right there, Mae.” Hearing an apology from her lips on his behalf doesn’t sit nearly as well as I thought it might. “Tensions were high and I’m sure he was just joking around.” Like hell he was, but this is about Mae and I staying united right now.
My assurances do nothing to ease her. “He won’t like it if he sees you here.” My new resolve shudders. “The whole studio heard about what happened, and I guess he got into some trouble. It’s probably for the best if we avoid each other too, at least for tonight.”
