“Oh my God!” she exclaims, leaning in to hug me. “I worried you might be one of the producers skulking around looking for ‘new talent’.” She makes air quotes, and her mouth twists in disgust. “I thoughtMe Toogot rid of sleazebags like that.”
I turn to where she’s looking and see a tall white man in an off-the-rack blazer. Sure enough, he’s leaning way too close to a much younger woman who, thankfully, isn’t alone. I suppress the chill that runs up my spine at seeing a predator so openly on the prowl.
“Unfortunately, they’re like a hydra; cut one head off, two more grow back in its place. There are a lot of great things about working in fashion, but men like that aren’t one of them.”
Little does she know that I’m speaking from experience. That I was too much of a coward to raise my ownMe Tooclaim and risk the only life I’ve ever known. It turns my stomach to think I might still see him at an event. Denise sucks her teeth.
“Anyway,” she beams, “you look amazing! I’m worried my dress won’t be able to stand up to a classic like yours.”
I rear back, looking at her like she’s crazy.
“Girl, hush. Your dress is gorgeous! You stand out like a beacon compared to all these prom dress wannabes.”
It’s not empty flattery; her work is stellar. I wouldn’t attach my name to her if it weren’t. She blushes at the compliment.
“Thanks. Let’s just hope I’m shining bright enough for Cory to find me through all these people. I didn’t expect it to be so crowded!”
No sooner has she said the words than Cory comes up behind her with a flute of champagne and a saucer of crab cakes and bruschetta. She gratefully takes the refreshments and tilts her chin up when Cory bends down for a kiss. I avert my eyes, trying not to stare. Do they have to be so freakin’ in love? Give us poor single people a break!
“Hey, Kendra,” Cory mutters when he’s finally done feasting on Denise’s neck.
“Nice to see you, Cory. You and Denise look so cute together. It’s making me wish I’d brought a date,” I laugh.
He looks at me, confused.
“You aren’t here with Damon? When I talked to him earlier, he said Noah had tickets and took him to buy a new suit.”
I feel Denise’s eyes and quickly paste on my public smile, hoping it hides my reaction to Cory’s statement.
So, not only is he lying about being busy, but he’s going to fashion events without me? I have no right to be jealous—and I’m not!—but…I don’t know. I thought he wanted me. That he was coming to all those shows to seeme. Was it all just a coincidence? Would he have been happy withanymodel? But that can’t be it, because he’d stayed! He’d looked so hurt when he left that morning. Now he’s ghosting me?
I huff to myself. Cory, oblivious to my inner turmoil, nods at someone approaching from behind me.
“There he is! Damon, bro. I knew we should’ve shared a car. Your girl thought you weren’t coming!”
I freeze. Maybe if I don’t move, he won’t see me.
“Uh…,” he sputters, as shocked as I am.
I slowly turn my head, as if he might morph into someone else by the time we face each other. No such luck; staring back at me is Mr. Fizzle himself, looking downright edible in a black tux with velvet lapels and a pearl cravat.A fucking cravat!Dude leaves me on read and then shows up looking like a Bridgerton wet dream?
Sensing the tension between us, Cory clears his throat and takes Denise’s arm.
“Uh…C’mon, babe. I think I saw some Beef Wellington bites circulating by the chocolate fountain.”
Cory leads a confused Denise away, catching Noah’s arm before he even makes it to us. Damon and I stand next to each other, shifting uncomfortably.
“I didn’t realize you’d be here,” he mutters, avoiding my eyes.
“No shit,” I reply through clenched teeth, waving when I spot a photographer I worked with a few years back.
“If I had known, I would’ve—”
“What?” I snap. “Hidden behind the bar? Worn a disguise? It’s a party on fashion less than two weeks before Fashion Week. If you wanted to avoid me, why even come?”
My smile is rigid, possibly manic, but you never know when someone’s snapping a picture at these things. He follows my lead and keeps his face passive, though I notice a tick in his jaw.
“I wasn’t thinking. Noah offered me free tickets, so I came. That’s it.”
