Chapter 27
“You look beautiful,” Aurora said behind me in the mirror.
It was the day of her launch party. One week since I talked to Easton. One week since my heart beat. One week since I felt normal.
When I recovered from my hangover, I made the most unpleasant call I’d ever had to make. I let Kelly Ann know that Easton found Gnomen and he knew about our failed unicorn experiment.
Kelly Ann and I texted every day. She hadn’t heard from Easton, but she told me not to lose hope.
That was easy because I had no hope to lose.
The Marketing Madams was the one thing that was going perfect in my life, and I hung onto it with both hands, fingernails digging in for good measure. Most nights, Jules or Cole would come pick me up so I wouldn’t sleep at the office.
One thing about heartache is how productive you become. Anything to keep my thoughts off Easton.
Jules, Aurora, and I were getting ready at Cole’s house. The three of us went for massages in the morning. My poor massage therapist had to deal with me sobbing on the table for my eighty-minute massage. She kept telling me it was normal. I tipped her well.
Jules hugged me tightly when she saw my face walking out of the massage room. “That bad, huh?”
I laughed because I knew that was what she wanted, but I felt wilted inside.
“She was wonderful. We can never come back here,” I told her.
“There are plenty of spas,” Aurora said, throwing her arms around us.
Jules did my makeup for the launch party.
I insisted my hair be down and wild, not admitting that was the way Easton liked it.
Cole confirmed that Easton would not be in attendance, and he was still in Japan.
He told me to give him time, that he would pull his head out of his ass, but I refused to believe him
We dressed. Jules in a black form-fitting dress that made her pink hair pop.
Aurora wore a deep purple dress that made her appear like the grownup she was evolving into.
I was in a dark green dress. It was corseted on top, pushing my breasts up to where they used to be in high school.
The bottom flared out in a voluptuous skirt that made me feel like a Hollywood starlet.
“We look fabulous,” Jules said, staring at us in the mirror.
“Yes, you do.” Cole walked in beaming at us. “I’m so proud of all of you.”
I smiled next to Jules and Aurora. I knew he wasn’t just talking to them. Cole and I had become close since I was a permanent fixture at Jules’ house the last week.
He winked at me as if he could read my mind. “Tonight is going to be magical.”
“Like a unicorn,” I said.
Jules and Cole burst out laughing. Aurora- sweet, innocent Aurora- looked confused. “Okay, I guess that was funny,” she said, making us laugh even harder.
The limo pulled up to the venue. Jules and I were there earlier that morning to make sure everything was set up before we went to our massage appointment.
There were paparazzi everywhere. We told Faith we would keep the JackholeS a secret, but she explained there was no reason to have a famous family if she couldn’t use them for good.
Faith and the JackholeS made appearances on talk shows gushing about Aurora’s indie author project.
“Look how many people there are.” Aurora craned her neck.
“Jules squeezed my hand. “We did it.”
“We fucking did it,” I replied.
A valet opened the door and Cole stepped out, helping the three of us out of the car.
Jules kissed him on the cheek before linking one arm through mine and one through Aurora’s.
We walked the red carpet, stopping and smiling for the cameras, and answering questions linked together in the ultimate girl power.
The venue was magical. Huge posters of indie author covers were hung on the wall.
We had multiple photo ops. My favorite was an old school bodice ripper with a tanned man.
His open shirt appeared to flap against the wind as he held a woman with milky white breasts.
The person posing in the picture would put their face where the cut out was, allowing them to be the captive woman, heaving bosom and all.
Jules and I took multiple pictures with that one when we were getting it ready that morning.
Twinkling lights made the ambience calm. Two bars flanked the side of the venue, and front and center was the stage the JackholeS would be playing on later. The background was the cover of Faith’s newest book.
“This is incredible.” Aurora spun in a circle, taking everything in.
“We’re so proud of you. Thank you for letting us be a part of this,” I told her, hugging her.
“I knew you were the right ones,” she said, still taking in all the details of the room.
“I’m glad Easton didn’t talk you out of it,” I said, wanting to feel his name on my tongue. Wanting some semblance of him still in my life.
Aurora tilted her head and shot me a weird look. “Easton told me I should pick your company. He said you were the right choice.”
“That asshole. He told Rachel he tried to talk you out of choosing us.” Jules scanned the growing crowd, looking for Easton.
“He’s not here and he’s not coming.” My heart, which I didn’t think had anything left in it, withered.
I missed him. I missed everything about him … His dry humor, his smell, his smirk when something amused him, his face when he wanted me, or when I called him, sir. I just missed his essence.
Jules wrapped me in a one-arm hug. “After this party is a success we will spend all day tomorrow nursing our much-earned hangover and making a voodoo doll in his likeness.”
“I love you,” I told her. “You really are my soul mate.”
“I know. You’ve picked me up so many times, the only reason I know what to do is I’m always thinking, WWRD? What would Rachel do?”
“And voodoo dolls are what came to mind?”
Jules hip-checked me. “There she is. We’re going to get through this. No, we’re going to thrive.”
I nodded.
“Do not cry and mess up my amazing makeup job. Come on, the guests are coming in, and we need to wow them with our fabulousness.”
Cole walked over and kissed Jules, handing us both glasses of amaretto sours in champagne flutes. “I know you both hate champagne. I improvised.”
Jules wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him with more passion than should be shown in public.
Good for her.
I moved away, giving them some privacy. She’d find me when she detached. The night was a whirlwind. Jules and I shmoozed and networked our tits off.
Kelly Ann and Robert walked up to us, giving both me and Aurora a huge hug. “We are so proud of you,” Kelly Ann gushed.
Jules glanced at me and I made the introductions. “Jules, this is Kelly Ann and Robert, Easton’s parents.”
Once again, his name rolled over my tongue. I decided when I got home, I’d say his name over and over again as a sort of exorcism.
If only I wanted him out of my system.
Jules’ body jolted when I introduced them. Kelly Ann and Robert blushed pink at the ears and gave a sheepish smile.
“We’ve known Cole and Aurora from when the boys went to college together. Cole and Aurora were at our house a lot after their parents passed.”
It was my turn to jolt from a realization. Easton had told me that Cole and Aurora’s parents had died in a car accident because their mom was giving the dad road head.
Holy fuck, no wonder Cole and I are friends.
Kelly Ann must have realized what I was thinking about because she kissed my cheek. “See, it isn’t so bad. He’ll come around.”
Someone called our names. I hugged Kelly Ann and Robert one more time. “Go get up front. The JackholeS are about to go on.”
Jules and I met the band and Faith hours ago. I didn’t know if I was more enamored with Faith or with Kill, or Van and his wife, Jesse, or Jet and his wife, Amy, or D and his wife, Toni. Fuck it, I loved them all.
Jules and I made our way to the stage crowded with people waiting to see the JackholeS. We introduced ourselves as quickly as possible since it wasn’t our night and pulled Aurora onstage. She elegantly explained what her project was about and why it meant so much to her. I was so proud of her.
Faith joined Aurora onstage and gave her full endorsement. Aurora was center stage and beaming. Faith introduced her husband’s band and the venue went wild.
Jules and I high-fived. Cole grabbed Jules and led her to the side of the venue, holding her hips while she jumped to the music. I retreated to the other side, leaning against the wall.
I may or may not have been lusting after the band.
Someone stood next to me, but I was too engrossed in the band to pay attention. I spotted Kelly Ann jumping and singing excitedly in the front row as Robert stared at her with adoration.
“Rach.” A hand grabbed my shoulder, pulling me out of my eye fucking.
I turned around, my heart in my throat, only to see Bradford.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I asked, not worrying about my voice since everyone around us was screaming and singing along.
Bradford had the audacity to frown. He fucking frowned.
“Rach, is there somewhere we can talk?”
“Uhm, no,” I said. Not my most intelligent response, but Bradford was here. “I have nothing to say to you, and I definitely don’t want to hear anything you have to say.”
“Rach, I’m sorry. I fucked up. I shouldn’t have broken up with you. I got scared. You were too perfect, and I didn’t think I could measure up to you.”
“Well, you got that right. You cannot measure up to me. Bradford, I need you to leave.” I pointed to the doors then paused. “Wait, how did you even get in here?”
My security was top notch. The JackholeS were the ones to recommend them since they had worked with them before. Bradford had the good sense to look chagrined. “I came with your parents.”
My mouth hung open.
My parents.
Even though Jules had advised against it, I had invited my parents, knowing they would most likely not show up. Hell, they never made it to any of my school events, why would they start showing up now?
“They told me that you were with a horrible man who wasn’t treating you right.”
I jerked back like he had slapped me.