Seduction - Chapter 22
Friday
The music was so loud that I could feel it vibrating through my whole body.
I always loved dancing. But I loved it significantly more when my husband was here.
And when my feet weren’t swollen. And when I wasn’t worried that my baby would now pop out addicted to techno music. I slid onto a stool at the bar.
Justin was jumping up and down in the middle of the dance floor.
“What are you drinking?” the guy next to me at the bar asked.
I put my left hand on top of my baby bump and turned to him. My engagement and wedding bands shimmered under the lights. “I’m not. But thanks.”
“What are you doing in a place like this?”
“One of my friends is getting married tomorrow.” I turned on my stool back toward the dance floor. “Right there.” I pointed to Daphne who was now wearing a shimmery tiara and a bright pink sash that read: “Bride-to-be.”
“Are any of them single?”
I was about to say ‘no,’ but pressed my lips together. Kristen had made a few more comments about my husband. And honestly, I’d rather her be drooling over someone else. Like this guy. “See that tall one with brown hair?”
“Yeah.” He smiled.
“She’s the only single one.”
“Noted. Thanks.” He disappeared into the crowd.
Payback was a bitch. Not that it was really payback.
Kristen could just tell him I was mistaken.
That she was happily dating someone. But knowing what little I knew about Kristen, she’d probably spend the rest of her night grinding against him.
I didn’t care what she did, as long as she didn’t do it with James.
Speaking of which…I pulled out my phone, hoping I’d have a text from him. I really wanted to meet up with him later. But I only had one text and it was from Melissa: “Call me.”
I looked back at my friends. They were all still dancing. I grabbed my purse and headed out the doors to an alley. I walked a little farther until I couldn’t hear the music and called Melissa.
“Oh my God, you won’t even believe what happened today!” she screamed.
I laughed. “It can’t be as crazy as my day. I can’t believe I haven’t talked to you in a couple weeks. So much has happened.”
“You first,” Melissa said. “Because my news is going to blow your mind and we won’t be able to talk about anything else.”
“Well…I’m at Daphne’s bachelorette party. Because she and Rob are getting married tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? When did that happen?”
“They planned the whole thing in two weeks.”
“Oh, so she’s pregnant?”
I laughed. “Everyone has been saying that. But no…they’re just in love.”
“Well, good for him. I never thought he’d settle down. How is my niece or nephew?”
I looked down at my stomach. “He doesn’t like techno music.” I hope.
Melissa laughed.
“Wait. Melissa, isn’t it like…almost 5 am there?” She was on an extended work trip in London.
“Yes it is.”
“What are you doing up?”
“That’s what I wanted to tell you! You won’t even believe who I ran into at my dinner meeting tonight.”
I honestly had no idea. “Who?”
“Josh.”
“Josh? As in college Josh?”
“Yes. What are the odds that we’d run into each other in London of all places?”
“So slim.”
“I know. It’s fate, right? We spent the whole night just talking and walking around the city. It was amazing. And he just dropped me off at my hotel.” She sighed and I could picture her falling backward onto her bed. “I think I’m still in love with him.”
I opened my mouth and then closed it again. “Really?”
“It felt like the very first night I hung out with him all over again. We caught up and just talked the night away. I still remember that first night I hung out with him perfectly. I had this feeling in my bones that it would be my best year ever. And in so many ways it was. Until everything crumbled at the end of spring semester.”
Melissa had not taken that breakup well. It was probably one of the reasons why she’d ended up in Rob’s bed. “So the spark is still there?”
“Girl, it’s not a spark. It’s freaking fireworks!”
I leaned against the wall of the club. “I’m so happy for you.”
“But he goes back to Texas tomorrow night. We’re supposed to hang out all day tomorrow and I…I don’t know how I’m going to walk away again.”
“Who says you have to walk away?”
“Because I still have work here. And as soon as it’s done I’m flying back to NYC.”
“I thought your job had offices in Texas?”
“Stop it,” Melissa said. “I can’t drop everything and move to Texas just because I felt a dumb spark.”
“Nope. Fireworks. Don’t change your words on me.”
She groaned. And then she was quiet for a long moment. “I really never stopped, you know? I was so focused on school and then finding a job and I just…never really processed it. I never stopped to think about how much I freaking missed him.”
“I know.” I’d felt so awful knowing they’d broken up, knowing that I wasn’t in town to be there for her.
She’d had little flings with Rob, Matt, and Tyler.
But they were just that. Flings. Because she’d never gotten over Josh.
And all those guys hadn’t been looking for something serious either.
“This could be your second chance to do it right.”
“Just for the record, you’re encouraging insanity, Penny.”
“I’m just a believer in love.”
She slowly exhaled. “I’m going to marry him this time.”
I smiled. “I don’t doubt it. All I have is one question. Did he kiss you goodnight?”
“Yes. And it was even better than I remembered.”
“Well, you have your answer. He’s feeling it too. I think you have to go for it, Melissa.”
She squealed and I held the phone away from my ear.
“Keep me updated, okay? I gotta get back inside.”
“Love you!” she said.
“Love you back.” I ended the call and looked down at my phone.
Talking to her reminded me of Tyler. I hadn’t heard from him in weeks either.
But I also wasn’t going to call him. Because I was giving him the space he needed to be happy.
I hoped he and Hailey were doing well. And I hoped that one day they’d move back to the city.
I had this silly idea in my head that our children could grow up together.
I looked down at my stomach. “That’s silly, right?”
My belly did not respond.
“Who knows, little guy. Maybe Tyler and Hailey will have a little girl and the two of you will live happily ever after.”
No response.
“I can already see it,” I said. “I can already picture you coming into this world and making it so much brighter.” I smiled to myself. I knew I looked insane in this back alley talking to no one at all. And yet…I was really freaking happy tonight.
I turned to go back inside, but thought better of it. A few more minutes of fresh air would be nice. I shot James a quick text: “Hopefully we’re heading back to the hotel soon. Do you know when you guys will be there?”
I waited a few seconds for his response, but none came. They’d probably be another hour at least. Hopefully my friends would wrap it up soon. I was exhausted.
But still happy. How could I not be? Two of my best friends were getting married tomorrow. Melissa was happy. James and I were expecting a baby. How could things get any better than this?
I turned around to go back inside the club, and someone threw a bag over my head.