AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Nods of assent went through the crowd of family, friends, and well-wishers. Omar turned to the queen and addressed her directly.
“Esme, you radiate warmth. You made us all believe in love. This union will burn bright for our country. To Leo and Esme.” Omar raised his glass. “May you find joy in each other, and may your flame burn bright for a lifetime of warmth and happiness."
After the crowd toasted and sipped their wine, Lark ducked into the ladies’ room. She was not alone, of course. Spin and Jan accompanied her.
"Omar’s speech was amazing," said Jan. "I've never seen him so romantic."
“I bet that has something to do with a certain magician," said Spin.
"I sense wedding bells in both your futures.” Jan winked at Lark. The soon to be princess’s own diamond ring sparkled back from the vanity mirror.
But in the mirror, both Spin and Lark’s smiles dimmed. Taking in the sight of the two deer in headlights, the pie maker laughed.
"This will be a good show,” said Jan. "Watching the two of you duck and dodge two men who are dead set on keeping you and settling down with you.”
"Who said I was going to dodge?” said Spin as she reapplied gloss to her lips.
Only Lark was left unsmiling as she looked at the reflection of her commitment-phobic friend.
"Has he –?" asked Lark.
"No." Spin shook her head. "But he has been acting especially weird lately. I'm sure it's coming soon. And Jan’s right, you’ll probably be next."
"Omar and I just started dating. We haven't even …” She wasn’t about to confirm or deny out loud that they’d slept together. They’d only been on two dates. Three if you count their time on the dance floor. “Well, we haven't done much of anything."
"Neither had Alex and I,” said Jan. "It's something about this place, American girls."
"I'm only half American," said Lark.
"That's all it takes," said Jan. "I give you until the end of the week," Jan said to Spin. "I would've given you a couple of months," Jan said to Lark. "But after that speech and your moves on the dance floor, honey, your days are numbered."
It should've freaked Lark out. The fact that it hadn't was what actually made her sweat.
"I'll be out in a sec,” said Lark. "I just need to fix my face."
The two women linked arms and left her to her own reflection. Lark stared at herself in the mirror for a long moment. All the while, her heart thumped erratically. Was that pounding for Omar? Did she want it to be?
One of the stall doors opened. Lark hadn’t realized anyone else had been present during their girl chat. Not that the bathroom was their private space. Lark really needed to fix her face when she saw who the eavesdropper was.
"You’re a fool if you think he'll marry you," said Summer. Her eyes blazed with fury and a wash of jealousy, outlined in a smoky eye of envy.
"It's none of your business," said Lark.
"You're just business to him. Get that in your head, and you'll get ahead."
Lark wanted to rail against the woman. She wanted to tell her that Omar was more than his profession. He was a good man, a loyal man who joyed in other’s success. He was a man not intimidated by a strong woman.
But something made Lark pause. She looked at Omar’s former protégé and lover. All performers had a fire behind their eyes, a desire to run for their dream. The spark was gone from Summer’s gaze.
“If you sign with Rancik, he can take you further than Omar can.”
“Like he did you?”
Summer looked away, her eyes dulling even more. When she looked back, her gaze was full of flint. The kind of lead used in a pencil which looked tough, but easily scratched away when it was put under pressure.
“I’ve moved beyond performing now,” said Summer. “Now, I’m scouting ta
lent.”
