“Do not try to be charming now. I’ve seen the real side of you already.”
Damn, she was hot when she was pissed off. “Are you with Moose?”
“You don’t get to ask me that.”
She was right and yet, I didn’t care. “Just answer.”
“No.”
My face scrunched in confusion. “You’re not answering? Or you’re not with him?” She glared at me. “April, look.”
She stopped mid-step. Her icy glare turned right to me. “No. I will not. You ended things for whatever freaking reason you came up with. Not me. You made your choice and it was as clear as a goddamn window. The one thing I should be thankful for, was that you showed me how I should and shouldn’t be treated.”
She yanked her arm away from me, stomping on my toe in the process, and stormed off, out of the ballroom. Moose glared at me and shook his head before chasing after her. I stood like a chump in the middle of the floor, having a dozen sets of eyes staring at me. Fan-freaking-tastic.
Stalking back over to my table, I plopped my ass firmly into the seat, nearly tipping the chair backwards. My eyes were locked on April and Moose, standing across at the bar. My insides recoiled when his hand dipped to her lower back as he leaned in to presumably ask her what she wanted.
“Chardonnay.” I realized I’d mumbled out loud to myself, knowing that would be what she ordered. With furrowed brows, I watched as Moose leaned over, listing their items to the server. Then watched as they idly chatted, I scrutinized their body language. He was leaning in, she maintained a professional distance, but they appeared a little too friendly for my liking.
Just then, the server handed him a glass of perfectly poured ale and her a glass of white wine. Moose tapped their glasses together as they each took a swig. It was then that April’s eyes swept around the room and landed on mine. It felt like my breath caught in my throat. It lasted for a splitsecond before she purposely glanced away from me. It was clear from here; she was annoyed with me, and I fucking hated it. I hated the feeling that was consuming me, watching her with him. Friends, colleagues, or whatever. And for fuck’s sake, it had better not be a date. I’d kill him.
For what?My inner self chided.For picking up on what you so casually tossed away? It was a mutual agreement! I heard myself argue. To no one but me.
I slid my chair backwards to get up to go over.And do what?My own psyche got to me.You ended things. Fine, ended was maybe not correct. I merely mentioned the timing of our deal and then she ended things.Semantics.My inner self chided.You knew what you were doing.Especially the timing of it.
I have completely lost my mind, I realized, as I had an entire inner dialogue with myself, and lost.
Before my thoughts could tear me down further, I felt a hand on my arm, gently pushing me back down, not even realizing I had started to stand. My gaze tore away from April, down to my right arm to see it was Millie. She was gorgeous in her dazzling charcoal cocktail dress. Her hair was down, and she had Jake watching her from across the table chatting with Kev and Milos. He shot me a brief glance as if to say,I tried to stop her.
“So, you’re a dumbass,” she stated.
“Wow, just like that, huh?” I shook my head. “Not even a hi first.”
“My bad.” She smiled brightly. “Hi. You look like you’re about to take down a bear.”
“More like a Moose,” I grumbled, grabbing my glass and taking a swig.
“Ah, then my previous statement is correct.”
“Huh?” I answered absently as I watched Moose guide April over to a table with some important looking people. He beamed as he introduced April, and I wanted nothing more than to walk over and plant myself firmly between them.
“You’re a dumbass,” she stated firmly, following my stare. Millie had been known to cut through the bullshit and call you out on whatever it was you had done. It was uniquely part of her charm and so far, she hadn’t been wrong. Not even when Carlos got himself into hot water with his wife. Millie was the one to catch it and tell him off, then made him fix it. What she did for them, probably saved them from divorce and years of therapy, in one harsh but true moment. I knew enough that if she was coming for me, I deserved it.
“So, tell me why it is you’re stewing over here, instead of over there, clinging to April like you want to be the one to introduce her to people.”
That was a good fucking question. I blew out a long breath. “Because I am a dumbass,” I responded flatly.
Millie chuckled. “Are you going to do anything about it?”
My head turned to her. “Nope.”
She patted my leg. “At least we agree on something.”
“What?” I was thoroughly confused. “Aren’t you supposed to tell me I am supposed to go after her or something?”
Millie shrugged. “Is that what you want? Permission?”
I stilled for a moment. My back going up. “No.”
