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“Do you want the obvious answer?” He s miled, bashfully. I looked away to avoid his stare. IT was awkwardly quiet now and it was making me nervous so I just started talking again.
“Did you just arrive?” I asked , looking over at him again. “Yes,” he replied, stopping a server with a tray of filled champagne flutes as she walked by. But before I was able to ask him anything else, someone called out his name. We both looked in the same direction as the man waved him over. “Excuse me.” He said apologetically then took a few steps. Then he turned back. “The dress is remarkable by the way.” As he walked back towards me, he caught me by surprise when he leaned in close, his hand caressing the small of my back as he kissed my cheek.
My breath hitched. Slowly he retracted and our eyes met. My heart fluttered wildly and my cheeks flared red. It took several minutes for the goosebumps to disappear. He then turned on one heel and walked towards the man that called him over. The grin on my face was hard to hide. It also didn’t help that he was constantly glancing in my direction, smiling.
Why I continued to pine over Mason, when he was clearly not interested was beyond me. It was easy to see how sweet and sexy Nick obviously was. I pried my glaring eyes away from him for a moment to look around for Cassie, only to catch myself looking back at Nick. Every time I did, he smiled and I felt my cheeks burn hotter every time.
Then, as I made my way around I spotted out of the corner of my eye, on the opposite side of the room, I saw him. My lips parted and my heart thudded in my chest. Mason was standing in front of his mother, and it looked as though the two were having a heated conversation. I watched as she continued to fix his collar because it was unbuttoned leaving his emerald-coloured tie loose. Mason kept slapping her hands away. Then on her last attempt to fix his collar he caught her hand and held it. I was able to read his lips. “Stop” was all he said, and then he let go. His mother shook her head, turning away. It was evident that she was upset. My eyes darted briefly towards the ballroom, a quick escape before he spotted me. The orchestra’s tempo picked up and the guests started to couple up as they walked into the center of the dance floor. A heavy sigh slowly released through my slightly parted lips. Then I turned to find Mason again, watching him and eagerly waiting for him to turn and notice me, but he never did. A blond woman then walked up to him, linking her arm with his, and together they walked. My eyes fluttered profusely, and I felt the glass in my hand begin to slip.
“There you are.” Nick caught the glass, taking it from me and placing it on the table against the wall.
“Nick—” I gasped, my eyes filling with tears and I nervously spun around to face him putting my back in Mason’s direction.
“May I have this dance?” he asked, holding out his hand. I couldn’t help but smile and wouldn’t pass up a chance to dance with him because of Mason.
“Yes,” I replied, accepting his hand.
With ease and perfection Nick glided me along the shiny dance floor. At first my eyes were locked on his, and I felt a sudden charge of electricity fill me. Nick excited me in a way I never thought possible. He was charming, sexy and sweeter than Mason. I needed to stop comparing them since there was no comparison. The two brothers were as different as night and day and no matter how hard I tried not to, my eyes caught a glimpse’s of Mason as he roamed around the room, and my heart pounded. I couldn’t believe how eager I was for him to notice me. Apparently, just the thought of him seeing me drove my heart into overdrive.
“You’re distracted,” Nick expressed disappointedly. I knew I should have kept my attention on Nick as he twirled me around the dance floor, but I just couldn’t get my mind off Mason. I gave Nick a thin smile as I thought of a way to apologize. “It’s Mason, isn’t it?” He sighed, our pace slowing.
“I’m sorry, Nick.” I sighed, relaxing a little. “I know it’s ridiculous of me to continue to pursue him even when I know he isn’t interested but—” My eyes glanced away for a second and I caught Mason’s stare. My breath halted and my eyes immediately downcast, I pulled away from Nicks embrace. Mason stood watching us with a crystal glass in one hand, and the other hand stuffed in the pocket of his pants. Nick’s hands dropped to his side as he turned to follow my stare. As usual, Mason had a smirk on his face, a look that said we were caught red-handed. Dancing with Nick was hardly anything for Mason to be upset about.
Nick didn’t stand around to watch.
“Nick—” When I looked back, he was gone. I cursed under my breath, and was about to head towards Mason, but he had disappeared.
“There you are!” Cassie said, steadying me as I lost balance. “What is wrong?” She asked; a look of concern on her face.
“Mason,” I groaned, looking around.
“He’s here?” She sighed. “What did he say to you this time?” She asked placing her hands on her hips.
“Nothing, he said nothing.” I gulped. “I haven’t even spoken to him yet.”
“Yet? Lauren, come on, let it go,” she pleaded with me. “He is selfabsorbed and a jerk he isn’t worth your time and effort.” I shrugged turning away as my lips quivered.
“Why is it that I’m wearing red and nobody else is, Cassie?” I asked. Cassie screwed her lips as my head tilted with curiosity. I folded my arms across my chest.
“Nobody else wore red because it was usually what your family wore in the past,” she answered. My mouth dropped and my eyes welled, blinking a few tears out. “I’m sorry, Lauren. I should have told you.” She hugged me.
“So he knew it was me, then,” I said, backing away.
“Probably,” she replied, biting her lip.
I pressed my trembling lips tight. “And . . . that’s what Nick meant by the obvious answer,” I said recalling the conversation. “I need some air,” I said, walking away.
The garden path was lit up with a canopy of bright white emitting diode lights along the interlocking path. I walked halfway down, took a seat in a dry spot on a bench practically ripping off my mask to wipe the tears from my cheek. I should have been more furious with Cassie, but I wasn’t. It had slipped my mind that each family that did RSVP to these events chose the colour that represented their family, ours was always red. I should have remembered that. I buried my face in my hands. Then I heard footsteps, quickly I wiped my face, looking in the opposite direction of the couple heading my way. Other guests had the same idea—a walk in the garden. As I got to my feet, I started to follow, far behind, the couple up ahead losing them in the darkness beyond the path. Eventually, I turne
d and walked back. I was afraid of what I might find if I walked any further.
When I returned to the party, I grabbed another drink, took my place next to a pillar in the ballroom and watched everyone else dance and enjoy themselves. This time I wanted to make sure that nobody crept up on me so I leaned back against the wall. I opened my purse to look at the time on my phone; almost midnight. My shoulders slumped. Where had the time gone? I hadn’t realized that I spent that much time in the garden.
Then out of the corner of my eye, as I glanced up, I saw Charlie walk in the door. I stepped forward and quickly scanned the crowd for Cassie. When I spotted her, I started walking over, until I noticed with whom she was speaking and then stopped short.
She was scolding Mason, and he stood there, staring at the ground. My brow furrowed and I wanted to interrupt, but then Mason’s face turned to anger and his arms flailed, followed by some obvious heated words, then he walked away barrelling past the people standing around. My eyes followed him to the bar, where he grabbed a bottle of Cristal, then headed out the patio doors. I looked back at Cassie, who stood there with her arms crossed, shaking her head. It was too late to warn her about Charlie. He had already reached her, grabbed her arm, turning her around. I stood watching with envious eyes at the affection shared between them. As they embraced I turned and walked away.
With a heavy heart and a big sigh, I grabbed a full glass from the server and went out the same door as Mason. To give myself a little closure, I needed to know how he felt about me, once and for all. The worst thing was having feelings for someone without knowing if the feelings were returned. I know he tried to tell me to get over him but his eyes told me a different story. Cassie and Nick tried to make me see it too but I need to feel it from Mason. I walked along the path to the gazebo strung up with lights. The sound of my heels gave me away as I approached.
