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I was very eagerly excited to go to the party when I woke up in the morning. I even had a pep in my step as I woke the kids and got their breakfast ready before school.
“You’re happy today,” Leann said suspiciously.
This girl was going to be the death of me.
“I’m happy every day I get to spend with you,” I said in a sickly - sweet tone.
“Yeah, right,” she said.
I opened my mouth to try to argue with her but decided that fighting with a nine-year-old was just not worth my time.
I got them off to school, then came back to the suite. The kitchen was fully cleaned up from breakfast when my phone went off. I looked at it to see a message from Max, and my face lit up, then fell again as I saw his message.
Hey, baby. I’m not going to be able to make the party tonight. I have a late meeting that I just found out about. It’s a weird time difference thing. I’ll call you tomorrow though.
He ended the message with a heart emoji, which I was sure was meant to soften the blow, but it didn’t. I sat down on one of the stools at the breakfast bar and stared at my phone. That wasn’t like him at all to cancel last minute and definitely not like him to be so flippant about it, not offering to call and explain or anything.
I spent the rest of the day moving at a snail’s pace, going through the motions of the day and trying to keep my head on my work, but it was hard. I was torn now about going to the party since I wouldn’t have my date with me. The only reason I was even still considering it was that I knew Anna would be there, so I wouldn’t be totally alone.
I figured getting ready would help me feel a bit more like going, so I did my hair and makeup but didn’t put on my dress until I finally just decided to suck it up and try to have fun.
When I arrived at the blue room—a banquet lounge—I felt a little apprehensive about entering. All of these people were not only more powerful and wealthier than me, but most likely a decent amount older. Oh well, at least I’d have Anna.
“Haley!” I heard from behind me, and I turned to see her standing there. She and Kevin must have just arrived because their cheeks were flushed from the cold. Well, either that or they’d snuck off somewhere, which would be completely in character for them.
“Hey,” I said, glad she was there. I gave her a hug, then looked at Kevin. “Looking good, Kev.”
He tugged at his tie in a way that was both awkward and cocky, and Anna laughed, patting him on the chest. He leaned down to kiss her, and I could see the way his fingers dug into her hip as he did.
Great. Third wheel time.
We hung out for a while longer, but as the night went on and champagne flowed freely, they both got more and more handsy.
And it made me feel even more alone than if they hadn’t been there at all.
Chapter Twelve
James
For something so last minute, I seemed to have pulled it off tremendously. All of the guests showed, and all of the caterers were on time. Honestly, it was so easy I wondered if I should always host.
But then my senses came back to me.
Kevin and Anna were among the first to arrive and I walked toward them when I noticed them talking to a curvy blonde in a navy-blue cocktail dress. She was a knockout from the backside, and I wondered if I could get them to introduce me.
But as Anna and Kevin turned to each other, diving into a deep kiss, the blonde turned away to take a long drink of her champagne.
It was Haley.
Holy… Shit…
I barely had time to register her gorgeous visage though, before Mark Caper, a representative for Nike Ski sponsorships, touched me on the shoulder and stopped me.
“Hey,” he said with a winning smile. “Great party.”
I nodded in thanks, trying not to lose sight of the gorgeous siren who had thoroughly bewitched me. But when Mark shifted his weight, she was gone.
“Have you thought any more about the sponsorship offer?” he asked.
