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“Be safe,” Matthew whispered, his voice tinged with worry and genuine concern. “Your father is not to be messed with, and I’d like for you to have a long, good life.”
His words hung in the air, a heavy reminder of the danger that lurked in the shadows of my existence. Silence filled the empty hallway after Michael left. What was once previously enjoyed, this silence brought a pang of hurt. For years, I had lived with the belief that my mother had abandoned me, leaving me to the mercy of my father’s wrath. This new truth had opened a dark and angry void, and I was willing to follow that truth to whatever the end may be.
18
Chapter 18
ANNA
I didn’t text Wilder. He had called a couple of times and texted once, asking to meet. I didn’t know what to say. I spent the next couple of weeks in the same routine. Paperwork and coffee, stay at home or be at work. I took Luna for a walk every night. And then repeat. I was in a rut.
“Hey girl whatcha doing?” Alexis popped her head in, her bubbly energy spilling through the doorway.
“Working on the proposal for the theme of next year’s gala. What do you think about Moulin Rouge? Velvet and feathers? Maybe some dancers?”
A genuine smile spread across her face as she considered the idea. “I like it. A lot more energetic than this year’s, it will be a nice change of pace. What are you doing tonight?”
“Not much. I’ve got some ice cream in the freezer with my name on it.”
“Nuh-uh,” Alexis retorted playfully. “You’re coming out with me and Jason. He’s got a friend, we can double.”
All I wanted was to go home, put on my cozy pajamas, and eat ice cream. I hesitated, chewing on my fingernails, unsure of how to respond.
Alexis flopped down in a chair. “Anna,” she began, her voice softening with sincerity. “You’re my BFF. I’m not going to let you keep moping around. You fell for a guy and he wasn’t what he seemed. That’s okay. Really. It happens to everyone. But we gotta get back out there. Even if it’s just a rebound guy.”
She had a point. Reluctantly, I nodded. “Okay,” I conceded, a spark of willingness flickered on. “But his friend better not be weird. And I’m not going home with him. That ice cream still needs to be eaten.”
Alexis held her hands up in defeat. “Okay, okay,” she replied with a grin. “You can still make plans to eat your ice cream tonight. But before that, let’s go to Paradiso. You, me, Jason, and his friend Eric. Have a few shots and dance. It’ll fix your funk.”
“Can we go somewhere else?” Apprehension and my urge to hide filled my stomach with gloom. “Just not Paradiso. I don’t want to run into Wilder.”
“Girrrl,” Alexis drawled, her eyes sparkling mischievously. “We can’t avoid it forever. Your ex may own Paradiso, but it’s one of the best in the city. We can go someplace else tonight, but I’m just saying. Getting back on the horse and all.”
I sighed, knowing she was right. “No, you’re right,” I mumbled, my resistance fading. “It’s a big place. I probably won’t even see him.”
With a knowing smile, Alexis stood up and extended her hand toward me. “That’s the spirit!” she exclaimed, her voice brimming with encouragement. “Let’s go have some fun, forget the worries, and make some new memories. And don’t worry, your ice cream will be waiting for you when we get back.”
Taking her hand, I let her pull me up from my seat. As we headed out the door, I couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of excitement mingling with the remnants of my reluctance. Could I see Wilder if he was there?
* * *
That night, while I was getting ready at Alexis’s, I told myself that this wasn’t the end of the world. And I made a promise to myself that I would have fun tonight. No thinking about Wilder. Even if I saw him, I could block that out. I could ignore him because I was strong. And I knew what I wanted out of life. And it wasn’t a shady guy even though my heart told me differently.
Alexis and I hailed a cab and squeezed into the backseat, eagerly setting off to pick up Jason and Eric on the way. The cab ride buzzed with a mix of Jason and Alexis’ chemistry and the nervous energy of a blind date.
“Eric, this is Alexis and her friend Anna. You guys, this is Eric. We work together at the hospital.” Jason provides introductions but turned his attention to Alexis pretty quickly.
Eric’s cute. Slightly taller than me. Not thin, not fat. He had a nice smile. It was honest, and he seemed like a good guy. As our hands awkwardly met in a handshake, we both averted our gazes, stealing glances out of the cab’s window.
We settled into a booth with our drinks along the wall. Despite the pulsating atmosphere, I was still not quite feeling fun tonight although I tried to make a conscious effort to stay in the present moment. My eyes darted around, keeping a watchful eye for any sign of Wilder, although I didn’t know what I’d even do if I saw him.
As the conversation flowed, Eric turned his attention towards me. “So, Anna. Alexis tells me that you work at the humane society too. How’d you get into nonprofit work?”
A genuine smile crossed my lips, as the passion for my job filled me. “It was just a natural kind of fit,” I replied. “It sounds cliché but I love animals. My dog, Luna, is my best friend. I’ve always had a deep love for animals. Working at the humane society allows me to make a difference and give back to those who can’t speak for themselves.”
Alexis playfully interrupted, smacking my arm with a playful shout. “Hey! Don’t forget about your human friends!”
The tension eased with the laughter and as the alcohol made its way through my body. “Why did you get into medicine?” I asked turning back to Eric.
