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People are lost in diverse conversations. Occasionally, I’ll smile and nod, but my head feels like it’s buried in a cloud of fog. Two days and it is just getting worse, now I am questioning my sanity. Did that really happen? Did I run into Alexander Edwards after nine years? Or was it just a figment of my imagination? I’ve barely slept, running on an empty fuel tank which doesn’t mix well with champagne.
Taking a deep breath, I remember my promise to myself to have fun. Forget the past, enjoy the night with my fiancé. This event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and shouldn’t be wasted on something I can’t control.
I’m standing with Julian, talking to Mrs. Bennett, who’s one of the committee members. Julian has his arm around my waist, talking passionately about a story he covered in a Hungarian orphanage. I can’t stop watching him as he speaks, his face showing compassion, a truly amazing man. Batman has nothing on him. He’s everything I want in a man, and I deserve someone like this.
Breaking me from my daydream, Eric and Emma come up behind me with champagne in hand.
“Charlie, have you seen the eye candy around here?” Emma says, scanning the area around us. “Lucky day to be single.”
Rocky and Nikki join us, arguing as usual. They turned up late, and after a quick hello all round, I question why both of them look annoyed. Rocky probably left the toilet seat up or something stupid like that.
“Okay, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, what’s wrong now?”
“You remember that girl I dated in college when Nikki and I broke up that first semester?” Rocky speaks cautiously as Nikki stands there, arms crossed, tapping her foot.
“What do you mean, dated? You screwed her once behind the bleachers after you won that game against Princeton,” I point out, chuckling.
“Thank you,” Nikki blurts out.
Sometimes my memory is too clear. This time it works for me but usually it’s against me.
“Oh, well, gee, I thought we dated. Anyway, she’s here, and Miss Drama Queen over here has a problem with it.” He rolls his eyes, frustrated at his wife.
Nikki ignores him, jealously looking extra special on her tonight as she wears a glamorous gold Versace gown.
“Aww, is Mrs. Romano jealous?” I mock, my expression changing from sympathy to utter annoyance. “Please, Nikki, you’re one hot piece of ass. You can run circles around these chicks. Plus, you’ll be the one tapping it tonight, not her.”
“Thank you!” Rocky rejoices.
The corner of Nikki’s mouth turns upward into a smile, prompting Rocky to lean in and whisper in her ear. She turns to face him, locking lips as his hands wander to her butt, grabbing it porno-style.
“Seriously, get a room. Or a bathroom cubicle. Or something.”
The moment I say it, they quickly walk off toward the exit. I wonder how she’ll get that dress off? Mental note to ask her later.
I can hear Emma and Eric whispering the words ‘big hands’ and ‘I wouldn’t kick him out of bed’ but they are quite audible. I start to laugh. Eric always keeps things entertaining. I’m so grateful to be surrounded by amazing friends and a very handsome fiancé who I plan to tie up Cat-Woman-style later tonight at his apartment.
“Ten o’clock, Charlie. Oh damn, he’s the shiz. Wow. Oh, crap, he saw me.” Eric drops his eyes toward his shoes, pretending to be talking about something else.
“Ten oh what, Eric?” I ask, confused.
Eric nods his head toward the left.
I look, hoping to get a glimpse of this so-called ten o’clock candy. My head takes a moment to catch up with what my eyes see.
Green emerald candy which belongs to the one and only Alexander Edwards.
My mouth falls open, eyes widening, unable to turn away. Like a bad car crash, only it’s the opposite, the most beautiful sight you could possibly imagine walking toward me.
Oh shit, he’s walking toward me.
With a sudden urge to run, escape, and hide, the realization of his presence cripples my ability to do anything besides standing there, frozen in place. There’s no way out of this.
“Charlotte, what a nice surprise to see you, again,” he greets, politely.
My legs are threatening to cave. Alex is dressed in a black tuxedo with a bow tie, and I’m trying to ignore everything about him, but he looks so perfect. His accent is unfamiliar yet equally as mesmerizing, and it matches the handsome man standing before me.
But this man, in all his perfect glory, is nothing but a stranger.
