15. Unwanted Alliance
Chapter 15
Unwanted Alliance
Lila
Rue’s cafe is just around the corner from my house. I get there first and grab us a seat with a great view of the busy street through the floor-to-ceiling windows. I watch as people hurry down the sidewalks, bundled up in thick coats and scarves, their gloved hands clutching coffee cups, occasionally pausing to take a hot sip. A faint puff of breath hangs in the air before disappearing.
While I wait, I order an extra hot flat white and chocolate croissant for myself, and a cappuccino for Sue.
A few minutes later, the little bell above the door jingles, and I know right away it’s her. I look up and watch as my beautiful, leggy friend saunters over to my table with a small smile on her face in an almost identical outfit. Her hair is twisted into a bun on her head, a few strategically loose strands framing her face. Her oversized scarf is wrapped around, giving the effect of a plush turtleneck.
“Took you long enough,” I mutter, trying to muster up a straight face, but eventually I can’t resist returning her smile with one of mine.
“Sorry I’m late. Traffic was crazy,” she mutters, taking a seat.
“How’ve you been, Lila?” she asks, her eyes drifting from mine to her tightly clasped hands in front of her. “I’ve barely even seen you these past few weeks. It feels like you’ve been avoiding me. Is it because of what I asked you to do? If it is, then I’m really sorry. I was out of line for—”
My brows furrow, face creasing for a moment, trying to follow her line of conversation. Wait, she thinks I’ve been intentionally avoiding her because of what she asked me to do?
“What? Sue, this isn’t because of you bringing up Cole Matthews. I promise,” I say, reaching out to hold her hand.
“Then what is it?” she asks, eyes glistening. I try to respond, but the words quickly dry out as I take back my hand, leaning back in my seat.
“Because there must be a thousand missed calls from me on your phone. You barely respond to any of my texts. Just the other day I told you I was coming over and it felt like you couldn’t talk me out of it fast enough. You make all these excuses every time we’re supposed to meet up and I—I don’t understand, Lila. Did I do something wrong?” she asks, eyes starting to water now.
Her voice is smaller than I’ve heard it in a while, fear making her eyes look like chocolate pools.
My gaze drops to the table, guilt tugging at me. A lump grows in my throat.
I’m a terrible friend for making her feel like this, on top of everything else she’s going through. I should’ve handled things better, then she wouldn’t have spent the last few weeks wondering why her best friend seemed to want nothing to do with her.
“You haven’t done anything wrong, Sue, I promise. I’ve just been busy with work and then I caught the flu. It was just one thing after another and I—I’m really sorry. I’m going to make up for it, I promise. Especially now that we’re about to get started on the Valentine’s ball. You’re about to get sick of seeing me so much. I know it’s still two months away, but I want to start working on it now because I really want it to be special. This is going to be the one, Sue. Can’t you feel it?” I nudge her playfully, hoping to get a smile out of her.
Something flickers across her face as I mention the Valentine’s ball.
“What is it?” I ask, not missing the way her eyes seem unable to meet mine now.
“About the ball…” she trails off slowly.
“Sue, if you’re worried that I won’t be committed to the planning like other years, you don’t have to be. I promise. I know I’ve been MIA a lot these past few weeks, but I promise I won’t let you down. Let me make it up to you,” I smile, reaching out to touch her hand again. “We’ll throw the best one yet. It’ll be the most beautiful event anyone attends this year, and we’ll make sure it’s a night no one ever forgets. It’ll be perfect!” I grin, involuntarily perking up at the thought of it. Nothing gets me as excited as planning a big event.
It’s the first time since my news that I feel something close to excitement.
Sue’s not as excited as I thought she’d be though. Her downturned eyes and flattened lips cause my face to crease with confusion. She was always the excited one. What’s going on?
“There’s a little problem, Lila. But I don’t want you to worry about it, because I’ve found a way to sort it out. It’s just going to require a little adjustment on your part,” she says, eyes finally meeting mine yet shifty in their gaze.
“What kind of adjustment?”
“I’m going to need you to do most of the planning on your own, because I’m not going to be here.”
“What?” I mutter, trying to make sense of what she’s saying.
“My mom is having hip replacement surgery,” she says.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry to hear this. Is she okay?”
“Yes, but I’m going to need to go take care of her for a bit.”
“Of course you do,” I agree instantly. I love Sue’s mom, and it breaks my heart to think of her being in pain.
“It’s probably a blessing in disguise. I could use some time away from Greg right now. I need to get away from my cheating husband.”
“Sue,” I start to say, shaking my head adamantly.
She ignores me. “I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but it’s going to be at least a month or more.”
“I’m sorry I won’t be here, but I’ll be back before the ball, and we can talk every day if you want. It’ll be like I never left,” she says confidently, reaching across the table to clasp my own hands now.
“I understand, it just sucks that I have to plan this event by myself. So much for giving myself a head start. I know I’m a professional event planner and all, but we’ve always done this one together. It’s going to be a lot of work without you,” I mutter, my face no doubt mirroring the sudden exhaustion I feel.
“Not necessarily,” Sue says.
“What do you mean?”
“You won’t be alone. You’ll have help,” she shrugs.
“Oh, you mean Katie? She’s got a big project she’s working on right now and won’t have time to take on anything else.”
“I don’t mean Katie,” Sue cuts me off.
“Then what do you mean?” I ask, elbows leaning forward on the table.
“Okay, but you have to promise me you’ll keep an open mind,” she says.
I’m not sure I like the sound of this.
“What would I need to keep an open mind for?” I ask, suspicion creeping into my tone.
“Well, when I was thinking about who I could get to help you, it occurred to me that a division of one of the new companies that Cole just purchased does event planning, so who better to help?” she says a little too sweetly.
For reasons I don’t want to think of too closely, my belly does a flip at the mention of his name. Sue is still talking, but I can’t make out her words past the raging noise that suddenly fills my ears.
I stare at her speechlessly for a moment, waiting for her to burst into laughter at the joke she’s playing on me.
Silence.
She can’t possibly be serious, right?
“Cole, as in Cole Matthews?” I ask slowly.
“Yes, and I know you two got off on the wrong foot, but this could be an opportunity to make amends. I’ve known Cole for years now, Lila. He’s not a bad person, I swear. I know how you feel about him, but maybe you both just need to—”
“The wrong foot? Sue, he called me a failure and a loser. You agreed with me that he was an asshole, remember?” I half yell, trying to keep my voice as low as possible, while still making sure my anger is known.
“I know I did, but in my defense, you’re my best friend and I’m supposed to take your side when someone hurts you,” she says with a smile.
“Look, I don’t excuse what he said to you. It was a jerk move, and he still owes you an apology for it, but I promise there’s more to him than what you experienced. He’s a good person, Lila. It’s unfortunate that happened, but he had a lot going on.”
“A lot going on? you’re really making excuses for him?”
“Yeah, well I know you never wanted to hear it, but he was dealing with some things. Lila, please just—”
“Just what? Ignore everything he said? What exactly is it that you want me to do here, Sue?” I ask her tightly.
“All he had to do was sit at a table, sip cocktails, and clap when the couple walked in. Plus, he’s had eight years to apologize. Plenty of time to realize how fucked up it was how he treated me.”
She sighs, her hands clasped so tightly together that I worry she might snap something.
“You have a point, Lila, but—”
“No, Sue. I don’t want to be anywhere near Cole Matthews. I’ll be fine planning the ball by myself. I can do it with my eyes closed.”
“Lila—” she reaches out to hold my hand again, but I snatch it back from her.
“Why would you even ask me to do this, Sue?”
My voice trembles on her name. I thought I made my feelings about him clear the last time we had a similar conversation. Why is she bringing him up again?
“You know what? I need to get back to work,” I mutter, rifling through my bag and slapping some bills down on the counter.
“Wait, Lila…” she says, but I’m already halfway out of my seat.