Dylan: You’re right. Are you still coming home for spring break?
Me: Yeah. J Mom would kill me if I wasn’t there for Cammie’s birthday. It sounds like she and our dads are going a little crazy with the party planning
The last I heard, our parents had hired a well-known DJ and a world-class caterer for the one hundred friends and family members who had been invited. Thank goodness, my dads had a huge house with plenty of outdoor space to accommodate everyone.
Dylan: I think Cam’s their favorite ??
Me: Probably. LOL I’ll talk to you soon
Dylan: Later
Between having a hard time forgetting what happened with Hayden and learning my mother wanted to see me, I was a bit on edge. Maybe a workout would help me get my mind right again. Sports weren’t my thing, but when all the shit went down with Lisa years ago, my dads thought hitting up the gym would help me deal with the anger I felt at times. They taught me how to do it in a safe and healthy manner, and it became a part of my regular routine.
I changed into a gray ribbed tank top and black sweats and walked down to the basement filled with state-of-the-art gym equipment. I’d just started running on the treadmill when Ford walked in. I gave him a nod when he looked in my direction, but didn’t try to talk to him as he climbed onto the bike a few feet away. Our paths had only crossed a few times since the party Sigma had hosted a couple of weeks ago, and each time there had been other people around, so we hadn’t talked to each other.
We both continued our workouts, but every so often, I noticed him looking at me in the mirror’s reflection. At one point he opened his mouth as if to say something, but then he closed it again and looked back at the screen on the exercise bike. I wasn’t going to ask him if he wanted to talk since I’d moved on from our breakup, and it was up to him whether he wanted us to try to be friends or not.
After running a few miles, I climbed off the treadmill and grabbed my water bottle.
“Hey, do you think we could—” Ford’s words were cut off by Preston and Derek walking into the room.
“What’s up?” Derek greeted.
“Nothing much, man. Just finished up.” I snagged my towel, wrapped it around my neck, and walked up the stairs. If Ford wanted to chat, he knew where to find me.
When I reached the kitchen, my text notification went off again. I expected to see my brother’s name on the screen, but the message was from an unknown number.
8
HAYDEN
The Italian-inspiredwinery smelled of oak and fermented alcohol as I entered the brick-walled building where Charlotte was having her engagement party. I gave the coat-check my winter jacket and then made my way into the main room. String lights draped above the large open space filled with circular high-top tables covered with white linens. Vases of pink camellias sat in the middle of each table surrounded by LED votive candles.
I’d purposefully arrived thirty minutes early so I could snap photos before anyone arrived, and I was almost certain I had beaten Charlotte until she and Mitch walked out of a room in the back. My friend’s eyes lit up, and she opened her arms asking for a hug.
“Oh, you’re here already.” We embraced.
“Just doing my job,” I teased as I held up my camera bag and then shook Mitch’s hand.
“Thank you again. We appreciate it so, so much,” Charlotte gushed.
“Not a problem.” I set my bag on a table and unzipped it. “You two just do your thing and I’ll be in the background snapping away.” I wore a black button-up with a black silk tie and black pants so I wouldn’t appear in anything that had a reflection while I took the photos.
“I want a picture with you too.” Charlotte frowned. “Even if it’s with my phone.”
“Of course. Just let me know when.”
“How about now?” Mitch suggested.
“Sure.” I set my camera down and stood next to Charlotte, who wore a silver cocktail dress that came to just above her knees. We smiled as her fiancé took a few photos with her cell, and then I went back to putting my lens on my camera.
“Even though you call this your job, you know you’re still a guest, right?” Charlotte inquired.
“I do.”
“Great. Please take time to get dinner and drink as much wine as you’d like. Have a good time, okay?”
“Don’t worry. I took a rideshare so I can drink.” I winked.
