AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Come here!’ Anthony drew her into a bear hug and ruffled her hair. ‘I’m happy to see you, T! But you know how Naomi is about seating charts.’
‘I don’t want to hear it. There are plenty of empty seats here.’
‘Pretty sure these seats are reserved.’
Roman looked from Anthony to Tara. There was nothing easy in their interaction. It was all forced, and a part of him ached. For ages, the three of them had been like family. Three amigos who’d met in college and stayed tight throughout the years. Those bonds were fraying, and it was mostly his fault.
Anthony’s arms fell away from Tara. ‘How about you two step outside to clear the air?’
‘Good idea!’ Tara said.
Roman glanced at the side door the bridal party had exited. Anthony reassured him. ‘Don’t worry about it. I’ll tell Sam.’
‘No, don’t,’ Roman said. ‘It has to come from me.’
‘Gotcha.’
Tara followed him out to the hotel lobby, trailing behind him by several steps. He couldn’t shake the thought that everything could have been different. They could have flown down to Tobago together weeks in advance of the wedding to explore this island that he considered his true home. He could have introduced her to his relatives. They could have swum in the waterfall and toured the beaches. That’s not how things had worked out. Instead, Roman had met Samantha, and had all those experiences with her. It was exactly as it should have been. He would trade nothing for it.
He pointed to a pair of rattan armchairs in a corner. ‘How about here?’
Tara shook her head. ‘No,’ she said. ‘I want to get out of here. Take me back to my hotel.’
‘You just got here.’
‘I’ve wished Anthony well and pissed off the bride,’ Tara said. ‘I’m good to go.’
Roman glanced at the ballroom doors. He could see straight through to the head table. Samantha still wasn’t there.
‘Come on,’ Tara said. ‘It’s not far, and we’ll talk along the way. You’ll be back way before the groom tosses the garter.’
They did not talk along the way. He drove in stiff silence and she stared out the window. Roman pulled through the resort’s gates and parked in the lot reserved for guests. He cut the engine.
Tara toyed with the gold strap of her purse. ‘Any chance I can convince you to come up for a glass of wine? The view from my balcony is breathtaking.’
Roman curled his fingers around the steering wheel. ‘Listen, Tara—’
‘Did you meet someone?’ she interrupted. ‘Is that why you’re acting this way?’
‘How do you act when your ex shows up to ambush you?’
‘I’m here to reconnect with you. There’s a difference.’
Roman left the car and leaned against the closed door. He was feeling claustrophobic in the small black saloon.
Tara soon joined him. Her heels made click-clack sounds on the paved lot as she rounded the car bonnet. ‘Believe it or not, I didn’t come all this way to ruin your night.’
He turned to her. The animosity he’d felt all night was gone. Mostly, he felt tired. ‘Why did you come? Tell me.’
‘The firm wants you back. I’ve been authorized to make you an offer and it’s generous. You get the VP title, which you’ve earned, and the corner office you deserve.’
‘Isn’t Doris head of HR?’ Roman asked, confused. ‘Or have things radically changed since I left?’
‘No … Doris is still … Doris. When she couldn’t reach you by phone or email, she asked if I could relay a message. So I’m here to tell you they want you back.’
‘You flew all this way, crashed Anthony’s wedding, to get me back to work?’
‘Or to get you back, plain and simple. Your old life is waiting.’ She went to him and rested a hand on his arm. ‘I’m waiting.’
