CHAPTER FOURTEEN
BIANCA
A whisper leaves his lips, forming the word, yet I can’t bring myself to say anything. After everything that happened these past couple of weeks, I assumed he wouldn’t come home for summer break. Yet, I was wrong, and I hate how my heart rejoices at that. It thinks he came for me.
Delusional as per usual.
I clear my throat and look around, seeing different emotions everywhere. Ana and William look like they’re holding their breaths, concern etching their faces. Mom looks as though she wants to step in, but doesn’t.
“Hi,” I say back.
I swear that his eyes soften slightly, but it’s probably my mind playing tricks on me. Microphone feedback fills the air and Josh closes his eyes in forgetfulness.
He mutters a soft curse. “Excuse me a moment.” He swings his gaze toward Mom and smiles almost bitterly.
“Entertain our guests.” He speaks through clenched teeth as she nods before he whispers something.
Her face flushes in what looks like embarrassment.
Josh nods curtly before he walks off. A leggy blonde announces her appreciation for the attendance.
Everyone claps softly, and I roll my eyes at the snobs that lawyers are.
We all turn to the stage where she’s standing and Mom grabs my arm, linking hers with mine.
A shadow comes to my other side and I try not to glance in his direction.
There’s a crick in my neck, so I roll my shoulders and turn my head.
Our eyes find each other again; he looks like he came from a photo shoot. From his white button-up that brings out his tan skin, to the tattoos going up his neck, the silver rings on his fingers, and those gorgeous, emerald eyes.
Time has really done him well.
I snap my head forward as they continue the announcements. Seeing Olivia coming toward us, I excuse myself, knowing that the only reason she’s coming over here is because of Liam.
Mom beams. “Olivia! I wanna introduce you to some people.” I squeeze between attendees in search of the appetizer table, feeling the need to fill my stomach with something. Being that Josh was one of the head organizers, he was also in charge of the food, and very apparently so.
I can’t read half of the names, them being seemingly in French or something, and the waiter looks at me expectantly. My eyes scan the placards, and for a moment, I despise that I chose to learn Spanish in high school. I think I see salmon, and a queasiness is already bubbling in my stomach.
Halfway through middle school, and after a terrible incident on a field trip where we went to a seafood boil place, I discovered that I hated it. Salmon, shrimp, crab—the lot of it. Any type, all freaking types, it makes me want to throw up.
“Miss?”
I glance up as he holds out the plate and I give him a sheepish smile.
“Um . . .” I trail off, hating the pressure of choosing something soon due to the rapidly forming line. Another attendee appears beside me and I wave off the worker to take them next.
“Can I have the ham and cheese quiche?” The voice makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand, and again, I risk a glance. Liam has a small smile—something different from his usual scowl—as he grabs the plate from the guy. He doesn’t look at me, and instead walks off, and I huff.
He’s doing what I’m doing: staying away.
I realize that what he ordered is something that doesn’t have seafood. I thank my lucky stars before the guy comes back, and I ask for the same quiche. My mouth waters as I smell the decadent mix of cheeses and ham. Smiling, I make my way back, though Mom’s nowhere to be found.
The woman on the stage is no longer announcing anything, and I look closely to see Josh has scooped Mom up to talk to more people.
Potential partners for the new firm, potential clients, and so on.
I make my way to stand next to William as Olivia chats Liam’s ear off about something.
I ignore the feeling in my heart when she twists her hair around her pointer finger, probably giving him her innocent little doe eyes.
Not paying attention, someone pushes my shoulder playfully, and I gaze up to see William’s eyes meeting mine, waiting.
“So?” he asks while fully facing me. I gulp as my anxiety starts to rise at that, since I didn’t hear the question.
I try to salvage the moment, chuckling softly. “Sorry, Will, I didn’t really hear the question.” He chuckles right back.
“It’s alright, Bianca. I repeat myself to Ana all the time. The only reason she remembers her head is because it’s attached to her neck,” he says, and Ana looks over at him, pulling away from the group of ladies she’s already infiltrated. She walks over before looking up at William.
“You talking bad about me, Will?” Ana asks.
He feigns hurt. “Never, my love.” She rolls her eyes as he plants a kiss on her forehead before they both look at me. “I was asking Bianca if she’s excited to start Mella Colta in the fall.”
Liam seems to stiffen; it must be regarding whatever Olivia’s said. I smile as I flit my eyes back to them.
“Yeah, for sure. Mella Colta has been my dream school since I was little.”
William chuckles. “I remember, you and Li—”
His sentence is stopped short when Liam’s voice joins in. “Dad.”
His deep voice causes me to shudder slightly, but I rub my arms as if to blame the cool draft.
Looking over, I catch sight of Olivia, who’s walking away.
She slides next to Josh and he looks like he’s already started scolding her.
Mom stands there, appearing uncomfortable, but the moment her eyes meet mine, she smiles.
Ana clears her throat, bringing my attention back. “Liam, you think you could get me more of that quiche you didn’t want?”
My eyes widen in shock and he grabs her plate before I say something. Ana and William seem to feel a bit of the tense energy between him and me.
“I thought the quiche was for you,” I say to him.
He stops, and for a moment, I think he won’t answer. “I don’t really like quiche all that much. Besides, it’s the only thing without seafood.” He leaves it at that, and Ana furrows her eyebrows.
“Bud, if that’s the case, get me something with some then.” She rolls her eyes. “I love when quiche has shrimp and crab.”
My heart beats a little irregularly as I remember Ana’s guilty pleasure is seafood, but mine isn’t. I rack my brain trying to remember if I ever told him, and I could only seem to recall when I said it in passing.
Did he remember, and when he saw me struggling, wanted to help?
I shake my head, cursing myself for being so dumb. He probably forgot or just got the first thing he saw. Nothing he does has anything to do with me anymore. I need to keep convincing myself of that.
Mom comes back over before she sighs slightly. “I’m sorry, guys. Josh has been presenting me to absolutely everyone.”
Ana waves her hand in the air. “You’re fine, Kate. I didn’t know your boyfriend organized this party.”
Mom flushes in embarrassment. “Yeah, he’s been so stressed, and I’ve had to tell him it’s going fine.” They laugh, and I look over to see Josh staring Mom down. Though, when he catches me looking, he smiles and waves politely.
I nod curtly before William says, “Thanks for inviting us, Kate. It’s definitely been a while, and I’m glad we got to see you again.”
Ana smiles like the cat who got the cream. “Well, I’ve been seeing her way before you, Will. Both of them.”
He shakes his head, the corner of his lips quivering.
“I would’ve joined you if I wasn’t working, beautiful.
” I smile, and there’s a sense of peace and comfort coming over me.
These two were always such important people in my life, and while their son and I are no longer amicable, I hope I can still keep a piece of them at least.
Liam finally returns and hands Ana a plate of good food. Her eyes light up and a small smile starts on his face before it drops. Mom rubs her arm, a nervous tic I got from her. “So, I heard you’re in college, little man.” She winces. “Liam, I mean.”
He doesn’t look like he minds the nickname, but before he can respond, Josh squeezes through.
He forces a smile. “Sorry, guys, need to steal Katie from you.”
Mom can’t even respond before he whisks her away, and Ana looks at me with a confused expression. “I thought she hated that nickname.”
Shrugging, I say, “She does.” Her eyes widen slightly before she nods, then looks down.
At that, the orchestra stops playing and we all look up to see Josh on the stage with a big, controlled grin.
“Thank you all for coming and giving me five hours of your Saturday. I know these days are crucial for us attorneys.” The haughty laughter isn’t missed, and I chuckle to go along with everyone else.
“When Tony offered me the relocation position to open the Los Angeles office, I was nervous, but I want to extend my gratitude for his faith in me.” He raises a flute of champagne and Tony raises a glass of what looks like scotch.
“And, I have enjoyed getting to know many of the people here. However, I have one more surprise left.” The tall blonde from earlier brings Mom to the bottom of the stage and everyone watches her.
“Katie, my beautiful girlfriend, would you mind coming up here?” Her eyes widen, and I instantly become uneasy at the sight.
He grabs her hand, then looks back to the crowd.
“All through the evening, I’ve seen people I respect with their significant others.
And it’s fueled something I’ve been planning for a while.
” We all wait with bated breath when Josh gets down on one knee, and a collection of gasps echo out.
Mom covers her mouth with both her hands as Josh grabs the ring from his suit jacket.
He gives her a small smile. “Kate Harrison, I don’t want to merely be your boyfriend anymore.
I was once your coworker back in Philly, but even then, I knew I wanted more.
I want you to be Kate Callaway, my partner in all ways. ”