39. Luna
CHAPTER 39
Luna
We swept past the security guard and into the gallery in SoHo. In the last few months, it had become the place for up-and-coming artists, Faith Waters included. From what Beck relayed to me, it was quite the madhouse the first time Faith showed here. Thankfully, this time there weren't any paparazzi stalking my best friend outside.
I bounced on my heels. “I can't wait to find Faith. She's been a nervous wreck all week even though she has no reason to be.”
Her work was stunning, and she had a wait-list a mile long. And she knew it.
I expected everything to go off without a hitch, but even someone as talented as Faith could get nervous before a big launch. Especially when the unveil was something as personal and vulnerable as art.
My phone buzzed in the pocket of my skirt. I winced but looked at the screen anyway.
Parvati
You've been missing out on the progress this week. We have some decisions to make, and I want you here in person for them.
Luna
I'll be there in the morning. Darnell assured me the car is gassed up and ready to go.
Parvati
Tell D I'm going to have a coffee ready for him.
Luna
D???
Since when do YOU call Darnell D?
How did I miss this?
Parvati
Since you decided to go above and beyond schmoozing all the inspectors after their last visit. D and I had a good chat while you were preoccupied.
Luna
Is there something going on between you and “D”?
Because I'm fully supportive if that's the case.
Darnell was a young widower. He was steadfast, dependable, and just the nicest guy.
Parvati
No comment.
Luna
OMG now I really need to know. I'm 100% grilling you on this when I see you tomorrow. Consider yourself warned.
Then I stashed my phone away and reached for Beck's hand. He was there in an instant, his grip firm in mine.
Not realizing I even had tension there, my shoulders relaxed at his touch as I searched the packed room for Faith.
A crowd gave away her position.
“This way.” I tugged on Beck's hand, and he let me tow him over to where Faith was enchanting a group of art enthusiasts. Giving her space to connect with her fans, we sidled up to Sebastian, both of us greeting him with a hug.
“Your girl is popular,” Beck said with a nod.
With a look of pure adoration, Sebastian smiled. “She is.”
“And for good reason,” I chimed in, feeling left out. The gallery walls were covered with Faith’s latest collection. A literal urban jungle. “Actually this might be fun for my office at Club Deux.”
“Good luck with that,” Sebastian said. “She's already sold everything in the room and the people surrounding her are begging to get on a wait-list.”
Maybe I should throw my name in the ring too.
Sebastian asked Beck how Alice was adjusting to life with Bruce, asking to stop by for a visit. My friend might be grumpy with people but was a veritable Squishmallow around dogs.
I turned, looking for a place to get drinks when I spotted a familiar face.
She must have felt my attention because her head turned in my direction.
Paige .
My stomach dropped, and I swayed on my feet.
Beck was there with a steadying hand. “Whoa there.”
The man immediately began scanning the room. No doubt he recognized her too. I had no doubt my billionaire bodyguard had done a full search on Paige once I revealed my past with her.
Without looking at him, I reached back to pat his arm. “I'll be right back.”
“Do you need me to come with you?” he asked, and I could hear the hint of worry in his tone.
“I’ve got this,” I assured him.
“Okay.” He nodded, still assessing the situation in that way of his. “I'm here if you need me.”
I dropped my grip. My focus was across the room, completely on the woman I hadn't seen for nearly eight years.
All my usual badassery flew right out the window. Still, I found a kernel of something deep within me to pull my shoulder back and swallow the space between us.
Paige stood there, unmoving, as if trying not to spook me. All I could think was how good it was to see her. Despite my nerves, despite the small lines I could see on her face, the little signs that time had marked us in our years apart, she still looked like the girl I once knew.
I came to a stop just in front of her.
“Hi,” she said, her eyes misting.
“Hey.” I swallowed.
A silence fell between us, and it was as if the rest of the world had disappeared. Like we were the only two people in the room. There was no time for nerves or fear of what to say. It was just the two of us and for just a second it had felt like no time had passed between us. That comforted me, transporting me back to a place where we’d trusted each other and shared our lives with each other.
“You’re still in the city,” I commented, not sure where to start.
Paige smiled. “I’m just visiting. I moved back to Connecticut a few years ago and got married. We come to the city every other month for a date night.”
My jaw dropped. “Married? Wow!”
An invisible pain lanced through me, and I blinked rapidly, pushing back the tears that threatened to spill. How many times had Paige and I stayed up late talking while she talked about all the things she'd do for her wedding? It had never been a thing I dreamed about, but for her, it was the goal. To date around, have some fun, and then meet her forever person.
She did that, and I wasn't a part of it. Wasn't her maid of honor like we’d talked about all those long nights. Not that I had any right to be after cutting her out so thoroughly.
Paige lifted her left hand, showing off the ring. “His name’s Gabe and he loves art. Hence—” she waved her hand around. It reminded me that we were in a public place and what a small world it was to run into her this night of all nights.
“It's beautiful. I'm happy for you.” And sorry I wasn't there for you.
She gave me a reserved smile, probably protecting her heart just like I had protected mine.
Like a dam bursting, I spewed out, “I'm sorry.”
Paige startled, and on instinct I reached out to her, hands grasping her forearms. “I was a real asshole to you, Paige, and I'm so, so sorry I cut you out like that. You didn't deserve that. You didn't deserve to be punished for something you didn't do.”
She shook her head, her short raven hair swishing across her shoulders. “You have nothing to apologize for.”
My laugh was borderline maniacal. “I actually do.”
Someone bumped into me, and I fell forward. Paige braced me.
The world around me resurfaced. Sure enough we were in the middle of an event. Unlike the Real Housewives who always say this isn't the time or place, I worried that this might be my only chance to clear the air. “Can we go somewhere quieter?”
Paige was already scanning the room. “Maybe there's an office we could pop into.”
“Let's go look.” It didn't take long for us to find a backroom. Paige shut the door behind her and the sudden quiet felt oppressive.
I pointed to a small couch. “I'm going to sit for this.”
Paige followed my lead.
My hands were clasped in my lap. If I weren't wearing a tight latex skirt, I'd sit crisscross applesauce and really relax.
Although in this scenario, even the coziest getup probably wouldn't make this conversation easier.
“I'm sorry,” we both blurted out in unison.
We devolved into giggles.
I swiped at a rogue tear. “I'm sorry. That night…” I pinched my eyes shut. “That night left a scar so deep that I measured my life in everything that came before it and everything that happened after.”
Paige nodded solemnly.
“You came before . You, and alcohol. I quit both after that night. It completely changed my priorities and how I wanted to walk through this world. I put safety at the forefront and ditched anything I deemed unsafe.”
She swallowed, taking in my words. “And I was unsafe for you. I invited him to my apartment and left you alone with him.”
My heartbeat kicked into overdrive and my throat was as dry as the Sahara. This conversation activated everything in me.
So I took a deep inhale through my nose and exhaled through my mouth. I didn't worry about how I must have looked to Paige. I’d pull out every tool in my toolbox to work through this moment. Those sessions with Dr. W. weren't all for naught, they were for now, for exactly this moment.
Not just to mentally prepare me for intimacy, but also to have me conquer the inner demons that had left their imprint eight years ago.
I licked my lips and wished for a bottle of water. When one didn't magically appear, I proceeded on my own. “I did blame you all those years ago, and in the spirit of outrageous honesty, I still blamed you up until last year.” I took a steadying breath and continued. “But that was wrong of me. I should’ve never placed my blame on you. We both went out that night. Neither one of us should have had to worry about what that piece of shit did to me. That was all on him. You couldn't have known that he’d drug me and try to force himself on me. That's on him .” My arm struck out into the air as if the perpetrator was in the room with us. “It should have never gotten between us and I'm so sorry I misplaced my anger. You were collateral damage.”
Tears carved a path down my former best friend's face. She swiped them away. “Damn. I came to this show looking for art and am leaving with a much-needed therapy session.”
I dabbed away my tears. “I'd kill for tissue.”
“Right? My husband's going to be so worried when he sees me.”
“My boyfriend too.” The words slid off my tongue like they belonged there.
Paige's eyebrows flew up. “Ohhh, boyfriend. Tell me everything. Do we like him?”
And just like that we fell back into our easy cadence. One conversation didn't solve years of hurt and confusing feelings. It did, however, feel like a heavy weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
We chatted like that for God knows how long. Eventually, a knock on the door interrupted us.
I'm unison, we turned toward the door. In walked Beck and another man who was clearly relieved to see Paige. Her husband, I presume.
No mullet in sight, I couldn’t help but notice.
“The event is wrapping up. The host has invited everyone to leave,” Beck explained. His expression was neutral, the same one he sometimes takes when talking business. But behind his eyes I could sense the hint of curiosity dashed with concern.
No doubt the man already knew this was Paige. He didn't own a security company for nothing, and he probably did a full background check on every person I’d ever mentioned.
“Right, we should get going then,” I said, turning to Paige. Part of me didn't want to leave, but another stronger part of me felt depleted. Like an emotional hangover was already setting in.
“Can I see you again?” Paige asked. “We leave first thing in the morning to go back to Connecticut, but we will be back soon. I'd love to get coffee. Catch up more.” She hesitated, her attention drifting towards her husband before coming back to me. “If that's okay with you.”
I swiped at another rogue tear. If I didn't stop crying, I'd get another migraine. “Yes, please.”
We swapped numbers and hugged. Introductions were exchanged, and I waved goodbye on the sidewalk in front of the gallery while Beck slung an arm around my waist.
I placed a hand over my chest. “My heart is beating a mile a minute.”
Beck kissed the top of my head. “I'm proud of you.”
I leaned into him, his presence steadying. “I honestly might pass out. That was not how I planned this evening to go.”
The conversation, though productive, proved emotionally and physically taxing.
I was thinking about my mushy brain when I stopped in my tracks. Horror rushed through my veins. “Oh my God, I forgot about Faith.”
My sudden stop sent Beck barreling forward before he caught himself.
“Everything’s fine. We're meeting Faith, Sebastian, and Faith's brother at the after party. Sebastian rented a room because apparently Faith requested tacos,” he reassured me.
I nodded absently. “That makes sense. It is Tuesday.”
And I couldn’t help but feel like I’d just betrayed my best friend with my former best friend.
Beck pulled me tight against him, the maneuver doing its best to reassure me. “Trust me. She won't be mad at you. It's Faith. She’ll be so happy you connected with Paige and will probably insist the three of you go out together or visit her upstate. Probably with Dominic’s wife too. Total world domination.”
A small smile teased my lips. “You’re probably right.”
“I am right. You saw how busy she was. Faith didn't have time for her friends or family at the showing. She was too busy having customers and potential customers fight for the right to get on her waiting list.”
I appreciated him trying to make me feel better about this. “As she should be.”
While I still wasn’t thrilled I hadn’t been there for my friend, I decided I would make it up to her someway. Maybe a girl’s weekend or I could set her and Sebastian up with a private booth at Club Deux or maybe send a private chef to their apartment the next time they were in town.
Beck tucked me close, his fingers splayed across my abdomen as we walked to our destination.
“I assume you know where we’re going?” I asked, keeping in step with him.
Beck pointed right, a silent indication for us to turn at the corner. “Yep, Sebastian sent me the details while you were talking with Paige.”
I nodded. “That's good.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” His brows were knitted in concern.
I considered it. “Yes, but not now.”
“When you're ready, I'm ready to listen.”
I loved this man. So I did the other thing that I wanted to do at that moment—I pulled him in for the kiss.