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“Where is my daughter anyway?” Mrs. Wallace asks.
I gesture in Elle’s direction. “She’s that way with her date,” I say pointedly.
Mrs. Wallace makes a sound in the back of her throat and heads off to see her daughter.
“That’s Ellery’s mom. Want that drink now?”
“Yes, please,” Maya says.
We head to the bar, and she orders a wine while I get a mixed drink. Then we stand around, waiting for things to start.
“So, this is for Mercy Hospital?” Maya asks.
A video plays on a giant screen at the front of the room. Ellery shows up on every fifth slide, helping someone in emergency care.
“Yeah. They want to expand their emergency room. Ellery is a doctor there. She’ll be giving a speech about it later.”
“Oh, nice.” She shifts on her feet and glances around.
“Are you okay?”
She nods. “Yeah, it’s just that in the limo, I felt a little uncomfortable. I’m not sure your friends like me.”
“Well, I do, and that’s all that matters,” I say, pulling her closer to me, willing myself to be interested in this beautiful woman.
I probably should have prepared everyone by telling them that Maya was joining us, so that’s on me. But damn them for being weird around her when they’ve accepted Bradley with open fucking arms.
A little while later, we’re told to take a seat, so I lead us over to our table. We sit with Miles on my left and Bradley on Maya’s right.
Mr. Wallace goes up first to speak to the crowd and thank everyone.
“That’s Ellery’s dad,” I whisper to Maya, my arm around the back of her chair.
Ellery looks over her shoulder, hearing me, but turns back to face the front of the room.
“And now may I present to you, my daughter. She’s going to pull on those heartstrings and magically get you to open up those pocketbooks of yours. She’s done it my entire life, so I’m warning you now.”
The whole room laughs.
Ellery winds through the tables, and people she knows reach out to her to say a quick hello. By the time she reaches the stage, I’m exhausted for her.
“Good evening, everyone. My father isn’t wrong, I’m going to try to use my charm to divest you of some money tonight.”
The room laughs.
Mr. Wallace puts his arm around her and pulls her to him, kissing her temple. Although Mr. Wallace is definitely bossy like my father was, I’ve always admired their relationship. You can see how proud he is of her.
She continues her speech, getting the laughs right when she wants them. The room quiets when she discusses how many patients they’ve had to re-route ambulances for because they were at capacity and how no doctor goes into medicine to not be able to help those who need care. She speaks about how emergencies are a critical time where intervention can change an outcome and how sending patients to a different hospital isn’t ideal. Everyone claps when she ends her speech by saying that every dollar counts and asking people to think about bidding on the silent auction.
Ellery’s eyes search out mine on her way back, and I smile and nod to let her know she did a great job. The music starts before she’s made it back to our table, and some couples head out to the dance floor. I’m so transfixed by Elle that I don’t notice Bradley meeting her halfway across the room. I watch as he links his fingers with hers and escorts her onto the dance floor. She’s usually against dancing at this event, always saying that she needs to schmooze everyone.
He holds her close, and her head is in the crook of his neck, their intertwined hands tucked into their bodies as he parades her around as if they’re on the Dancing with the Stars television show. That punch of red-hot jealousy hits me, but I can’t strip my eyes off them.
“I’m gonna go to the bathroom,” Maya says, but I don’t respond.
My feelings for Ellery are ramping up, not diminishing the longer she’s with him. My gaze shoots to Maya’s backside as she leaves the room. She’s sweet and adorable. I should want her, but no matter what, it’s always been Elle for me.
It’s unfair to Maya for me to continue things with her when I feel this way. I’ll have to tell her tonight that there’s no future for us.
