“How long have you been standing out here?”
“I just got here. Was about to knock, but you showed up. I came to drop this off.”
She extends the basket to me, and reluctantly, I take it, glancing over everything inside. A folded card, flowers, chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, peanut butter cookies, pineapple gummies, and a stainless steel cup engraved with Gavin and Carina’s initials.
“The itinerary for this week's activities is in here, along with some goodies. Your favorite cookie is still peanut butter, right?”
My answer is a tight-lipped smile. I pull out the clear-wrapped cookies, tied with a lavender ribbon.
“Thanks for dropping this by,” I tell her, holding up the basket.
“Of course.”
I unlock my door, and I’m about to walk into my suite when Carina pulls on the hem of my shirt.
“Hey…wait.”
She takes a deep breath, like she needs to admit something, but what could she possibly say that would be worse than what I already found out on my own three years ago?
“I know it was hard for you to come here. But we’re happy you came.”
“Yeah. No problem.”
Her expression shifts, and she rolls her neck. “Well, you don’t have to be so excited about it,” she frowns at my sarcasm.
I shrug. “What do you want me to say?”
“Nothing,” she says, shaking her head. “Actually, you know what, keep giving everyone the silent treatment. That might be better than dealing with your stank ass attitude all week. And letme remind you this week is not about you. So don’t even think about ruining my wedding.”
I take a deep breath. “Are you done?”
“No, I’m not done,” she quips. “I understandyoudon’t want to be here. But you came. So, you can stop acting like you’re serving a prison sentence, or something. No oneforcedyou to be here.”
“You’re right. Nobody forced me. Which is why you should probably appreciate that I came at all.”
Carina recoils, and her head jerks back as if she’s been slapped. A thought seems to cross her mind, and then her expression softens. The fight leaves her face almost immediately, replaced by a look I want to call remorse. But I can’t remember the last time this woman has shown anyone that sentiment. Not even me. Not even after she cheated on me.
I haven’t thought about her and the past in a long time, but the memory of everything I’d done a good job of suppressing rushes back.
I was at Mimi’s house. She was curled up on the couch, a book in her lap with the entertainment news playing in the background. She always loved hearing what celebrities wore to award shows and galas.
“How can you read with the television up that loud?” I called out to her.
“No idea,” she cackled. “But quiet makes my nerves bad. I gotta have some background noise.”
I laughed and shook my head.
The introduction of the news segment seemed to blare from the TV even louder as if trying to catch our attention.
Two reporters sat next to each other talking and joking about the ensembles they adored on the red carpet before the woman reporter said, “Let’s move on to other news. Because ina surprising turn of events, Carina Sterling is stepping out with a new man.”
Carina’s name drew both Mimi and my attention to the TV screen. A thumbnail of my girlfriend was in the corner, smiling brightly.
“And this time it's someone who isn’t in her usual circle. This is a guy no one can place. He’s not in the industry…”
My heart dropped to my feet. I remember thinking that our secret was out. I waited for a picture of the two of us to appear. Something to show that what I wanted to keep under wraps was now exposed for the world to see. Maybe a still shot of us on one of our overseas trips. Something private turned public. But the image filling the screen felt like a dagger to the chest.
I’ll never forget how loud Mimi gasped or the sound her hardback book made when it slipped from her hand and dropped to the floor. The picture wasn't of me at all. It was of Gavin. His name was splashed across the headline beneath the photo, smiling like he'd won the lottery.
