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CHAPTER9
Katie looked at her surroundings, trying to get into the swing of things, but unable to move past the ache in her belly. The company she’d hired to organize the reunion was cheap, their decorations garish almost. But nobody seemed to mind. The venue was nice enough and she had the forethought to open the bar to free drinks, so nobody seemed to mind the fancy private school reunion was giving away prizes these people could afford to buy in their sleep.
When she’d first taken the reins on this thing, she’d imagined a trip to Hawaii, not scented candles. She’d certainly paid enough. But whatever. Champagne was flowing and nobody had complained yet.
She absently toyed with the paper crown she was supposed to be wearing for the royalty theme the company had half-assed put together, while she tried not to think about Antonio.
“Super party, Katie. Why aren’t you dancing?” Shelley, the head cheerleader, prom queen, and ironically one of the nicest people here had plopped down next to her, fanning her sweaty face. Still gorgeous, she was a teacher at the same school they’d graduated from.
She offered the best smile she could. “I’m sorry. I had something earlier that didn’t agree with me. I’m lucky to even be here tonight.”
“I’m sorry. But you look fantastic!” Eddie bebopped by the table, wearing his crown jauntily as he double-fisted a glass of champagne and a glass of whiskey-colored liquor. He stumbled, and instead of falling on his face, managed to steer himself into a chair at the table.
“Hi, Eddie. Where’s your wife?” Katie asked him pointedly.
“She just saw me.” He grinned sheepishly. “I was getting her a drink, but I drank it, so I got her another. I’ve been longer than she wanted me to be.” His previous power trip at the barbecue was gone with the amount of alcohol he’d imbibed. Katie liked this version better for sure. “Here she comes.”
His wife, Anna, came sauntering over. “Eddie, really? You don’t even like champagne.”
“It’s not champagne, darling. It’s Prosecco.” He spoke like the spoiled brat he was, not that Prosecco was any better than champagne, but it was more stylish at the moment. And that was Eddie. Into what was popular, not what was good.
That was her life. She’d thought she was changing it, with Antonio, but his life was complicated.
She sighed again.
“Girl, you need to dance.” Shelley was nudging her, and she was about to give in, when a tuxedoed man walked up to their table.
“Miss, I’m to inform you that you won the door prize for the limo ride for six. Anywhere you’d like.”
He was speaking to her. She didn’t remember a door prize for a limo ride and wondered if this was organized by the same people that organized fundraisers for children.
“That’s perfect!” Shelley was bouncing now. “We can go clubbing; you can dance, and we have a designated driver. I haven’t done that in ages.” She clasped her hands together with nothing less than glee, and Katie couldn’t help the wince.
But maybe it would get her mind off Antonio and what a colossally terrible party this reunion was.
“Okay.” She glanced at Eddie and his wife. “You guys in?”
Anna shrugged and looked at Eddie, whose eyes had brightened like a little boy. “Hell yes!”
“Let me go get Cassandra. She’ll be all over this.” Shelley jumped up. “Don’t leave without me!”
Well, Katie hardly would. Shelley was the one who wanted to go the most. Cassandra had been the misfit in high school. Her parents had more money than anyone else, but she’d spent her time in school smoking in the bathroom, dying her hair unnatural colors, and sleeping with anybody who was willing.
Katie knew she sounded judgmental, but in fact, she’d been insanely jealous of the girl’s complete lack of give-a-damn. She secretly worshipped Cassandra.
Now she was head of a nonprofit that put libraries in underprivileged neighborhoods across the US.
Yes, she was still a little bit jealous.
Twenty minutes later, Katie, Cassandra, Eddie, his wife Anna, Shelley, and Veronica, a single girl they grabbed on the way out, were all in a limo. They glided down Broadway Avenue, on their way to Heavens, the newest, hippest club in town.
Katie tried to be as excited as everyone else, but the truth was, she wanted to go home and cocoon in her bed, eating pizza and ice cream until the end of time.
But whatever.
Instead, she made small talk with Cassandra about their nonprofit organizations while Anna and Eddie scoped out the small mini-fridge, and Shelley looked out the window impatiently.
“Honestly, the fundraising parties are my favorite part of things. I just love organizing all those.” Cassandra was bright-eyed and excited to be talking about hers.
